§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the Government's current arrangements for monitoring fishing in the marine area around Gough Island which forms part of the Wildlife Reserve; and what arrangements he makes for the conservation according to World Heritage Values. [87488]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[holding answer 29 June 1999]: A fisheries patrol vessel, based on the island of Tristan Da Cunha, was provided to Tristan Da Cunha by the British Government in 1996. It is based on the island of Tristan Da Cunha and does not have the range to patrol Gough Island coastal waters. The only vessels that monitor fishing in the area around Gough Island are those of the Tristan lobster fishing concessionaire, Premier Fishing. All Premier Fishing vessels carry a Tristanian Government observer when fishing in the waters of the Tristan Da Cunha group. Each observer is also a designated conservation officer under the terms of the Tristan Da Cunha Conservation Ordinance 1976.
Gough Island was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. The area covered by this designation includes the island itself and the marine area out to three nautical miles. Gough Island has a strict Wildlife Management Plan in place. An Environmental Inspector is annually appointed and sent to the Island to ensure that the Plan is being adhered to, and to make recommendations for improvements to it.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates during the past 12 months a fisheries patrol vessel has been operating within three nautical miles of Gough Island for the purpose of monitoring fisheries; and what reports it has furnished to HMG. [87489]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[holding answer 29 June 1999]: No fisheries patrol vessel has operated within three nautical miles of Gough Island for the purpose of monitoring fisheries in the past twelve months.