HC Deb 22 June 1998 vol 314 cc424-5W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the tonnage of the Spanish distant water fleet has been in each year since 1985. [46035]

Mr. Morley

Information about the fishing fleets of other Member States is contained in the EU Commission's annual reports on progress under the Multi-Annual Guidance Programme (MAGP), which sets national objectives for the capacity of different fleet segments. The Report in July 1997 provided the following information for Spain covering the period 1991 to 1996.

The Spanish fishing fleet: Segments comprising vessels fishing in third country and in international waters: gross registered tonnage
Year Trawlers and polyvalent Pelagic seiners, netters Tuna fleet
1991 264,695 31,859 58,648
1992 239,699 36,018 59,612
1993 214,682 36,349 56,136
1994 198,780 34,775 56,136
1995 173,745 27,824 55,286
1996 148,759 28,283 54,907