§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures his Department(a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to ensure that fishing regulations are enforced. [40452]
§ Mr. MorleyEffective enforcement is a top priority for this Government. We are currently spending some £25 million a year on fisheries enforcement in the interests of conserving fish stocks and ensuring the long-term viability of the fishing industry. Progress has been made on a number of fronts including measures to prohibit the discarding of stowed fish, the checking of vessel safety and crewing certificates by British Sea Fishery Officers, the introduction of satellite monitoring and the issue of proposals for a system of designated ports for landings of fish made by vessels over 20 metres. We have also promoted wide ranging debate in Europe and at the March Fisheries Council secured agreement to the development of an action plan by the Commission to strengthen standards of enforcement across the Community.