§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to publish the findings of, and recommendations arising from, the recent visit to the British Indian Overseas Territories by Dr. Charles Sheppard; what steps he has taken to protect fisheries in the British Indian Overseas Territories in the light of the coral bleaching in the islands; from whom advice has been received; and if he will establish no-fishing zones. [87384]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[holding answer 29 June 1999]: Dr. Sheppard's Report is now being printed and I expect it to be issued in the next few days. The Government of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) intends to give it a wide distribution. The fisheries management policy of the BIOT Government is based on the precautionary approach. Some partial Marine Protected Areas were introduced in the autumn of 1998 and the number of licences available for the inshore fishery for the 1999 season reduced by one third.
Early advice has been received from Dr. Sheppard and BIOT fisheries consultants. After issue of the Report, further consultation will be undertaken in co-ordination with the Department for International Development, who are co-sponsoring an Indian Ocean-wide programme on Coral Reef Degradation.
140WThe establishment of closed areas or other regulatory mechanisms for the protection of the fishers remain permanently under consideration by the BIOT Government.