§ Dr. LadymanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 24 March; and if he will make a statement. [36569]
Dr. John CunninghamI chaired the meeting of the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 24 March. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary represented the United Kingdom together with my noble friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office, Lord Sewel.
The Council discussed the introduction of a ban on high seas drift nets. Views were divided. The UK, with a majority of other Member States, argued for the phasing out of such nets because of the by-catch problems associated with them, particularly by-catches of dolphins. Several Ministers opposed a ban. However, at the end of the discussion I was able to conclude that there was an expectation that there will be a qualified majority in support of a ban. This helps clear the way for a formal agreement before the end of June. In the meantime, the European Commission will prepare measures such as decommissioning or conversion, to be applied within existing funding provisions, for fishermen affected by the ending of drift netting for tuna, swordfish and other high seas species.
185WThe Council agreed by qualified majority, with Belgium voting against, new total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the North Sea. The six new TACs will help to conserve stocks by extending the quota system to cover anglerfish, megrim, skates and rays, turbot and brill, dab and flounder, lemon sole and witch. The new TACs are precautionary and national quotas are based on historic catches, so confirming large UK shares.
Political agreement was reached, with the Netherlands dissenting, on a measure to rationalise by-catch limits for herring in industrial fisheries for other species and to limit industrial fishing for herring to part of the Baltic Sea. No other herring may be used for industrial purposes unless it is first offered for sale for human consumption and fails to find a buyer. Taken together, these measures should help to conserve sensitive herring stocks.
The European Commission presented a report reviewing the operation of fisheries monitoring under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and drawing attention to areas where enforcement needs to be strengthened by means of a 3-year action plan. In an orientation debate, the UK supported the introduction of new measures to achieve more effective and more consistent fisheries enforcement. As chairman, I was able to conclude that there was general support for improved enforcement and the Council welcomed the Commission's intention to come forward rapidly with concrete proposals. The Council will return to the subject at its next meeting.
The Council unanimously agreed conclusions welcoming pilot regional meetings held during 1997 and calling for the initiative to be developed and extended in 1998. These regional meetings contribute to the UK's objective of increasing the involvement of fishermen in CFP discussions and developing the regional dimension of the CFP.
Finally, the Council unanimously agreed, with Spain abstaining, autonomous tariff quotas for imports of fish products in 1998.