§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to amend the measures to control landings by vessels of 20 metres and over of whitefish and shellfish into the United Kingdom. [HL1866]
§ Lord DonoughueFollowing representations from the fishing industry, the Fisheries Department have looked at the designated port arrangements which came 63WA into operation on 5 January 1999 to see whether any changes should be made in advance of the wider review to be undertaken this autumn.
The main concern was over the lack of flexibility in providing notice of landings into non-designated ports and outside specified hours at designated ports. After careful consideration we are allowing fishermen to give between 4 and 24 hours' notice of landing and 4 to 72 hours' notice where landings take place on a Sunday or Monday. The department will also exercise discretion to waive the requirement to give 4 hours' notice of landing in cases of force majeure or exceptional difficulty. Additionally, some adjustments are being made to the specific landing times for Brixham, Grimsby, Hull, Kinlochbervie, Lerwick, Lochinver and Oban and the specified landing location for Kinlochbervie.
As part of the Autumn Review, the Fisheries Departments will consider the role which satellite monitoring will play in the operation of the designated port arrangements from 1 January 2000 and the provision of satellite position reports as an alternative to the prior notification of landings at non-designated ports and outside designated landing times at designated ports.
The changes set out above will take effect from 19 April and are being notified to the owners of all vessels of 20 metres and over.