§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what extra provision he has made for the Cornish handline mackerel fishery; and if he will make a statement on its future. [34944]
§ Mr. MorleyIt is proposed to amend the underpinning arrangements for the mackerel handline fishery so that it receives a minimum allocation of 1,750 tonnes or 0.83 per cent. of the UK quota, whichever is the greater. As a result, the handline fishery may expect to receive an initial allocation of some 1,750 tonnes for 1998 compared to 1,450 tonnes with the previous arrangements. Additionally, we have, through quota swaps, secured an extra 300 tonnes of mackerel which will be used to offset the overfishing of the 1997 allocation and the repayment of quota swaps to other groups.