§ Mrs. ButlerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the reduction in the number of foreign vessels licensed by his Department over the last two years; and what steps those vessels are taking to maintain an economic link with the United Kingdom. [74617]
§ Mr. MorleyFollowing changes in registration requirements in 1993 information is no longer maintained on the beneficial ownership of UK registered fishing vessels. However, we estimate that over the last 2 years the number of over 10 metre vessels which are part or wholly owned by overseas interests has fallen from some 160 to 140.
From 1999 onwards all vessels fishing against the UK's quotas are required to demonstrate that a satisfactory economic link is maintained with our coastal communities. That link may be achieved by landing at least 50 per cent. of the vessel's catch of quota stocks in the UK, by employing a crew of whom 50 per cent. are normally resident in a UK coastal area, by incurring operating expenditure in the UK for goods and services provided in UK coastal areas or by demonstrating an economic link by other means providing sufficient benefit to populations dependent on fisheries and relative industries. Responsibility for maintaining an economic link rests with the vessel owner and compliance will be assessed annually after the conclusion of each quota year.
There is clear evidence that these new arrangements, which have been blessed by the Commission, are being taken very seriously. Although vessel owners are not required to give notice of the means by which they will 719W be achieving an economic link there has been a series of discussions with the Fisheries Departments about the means by which satisfactory links can be established.
As a result of such discussions we have accepted that some 17 vessels belonging to the North Sea Fish Producers Organisation may achieve part of their economic link by making part of their annual quota allocation available for redistribution by the Fisheries Departments, with the remainder of their link being achieved through other means such as landings, crewing or expenditure in the UK. The quota, which will consist of 50 tonnes of North Sea sole along with smaller quantities of turbot and brill and Channel plaice, will be used to extend the fishing opportunities for the inshore fleet and in particular the under 10 metre vessels.