§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans he has for the remainder of the year 2000 and for 2001 for(a) netters, (b) beamers, (c) the pelagic sector and (d) all 203W other fishing sectors to financially assist those fishermen who wish to decommission their boat and leave the industry; [128842]
(2) what current financial support is available to those fishermen who wish to leave the industry and decommission their boats; [128843]
(3) what plans he has for the remainder of 2000 and for 2001 to assist financially those fishermen operating a line cash system who wish to decommission their boat. [129025]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 July 2000]: There is currently no financial scheme to encourage fishermen to decommission their vessels.
We are currently considering whether there is a need for a further limited decommissioning scheme, and will make an announcement as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to(a) review the operational effectiveness of sea fisheries committees, (b) manage shellfish stocks and (c) regulate use of high-powered under 10m fishing vessels. [128546]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 July 2000]: I keep the operational effectiveness of the sea fisheries committees under regular view. The introduction of a restrictive shellfish licensing scheme, which is now in preparation, should usefully add to existing action at EU, national and Sea Fishery Committee level on the management of shellfish stocks. A cap of 100 VCUs (vessel capacity units) has applied to the aggregation of under 10m fishing vessel licences since February 1996 and earlier this year arrangements were made to link the registration and licensing of all fishing vessels to the declaration of maximum continuous or permanently derated engine power. From 1 January 2001 it will no longer be possible to aggregate licences from vessels under 8m onto vessels between 8 and 10m and a cap of 70 VCUs will apply to the aggregation of fishing vessel licences onto vessels below 8m.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the operation of the legislative framework under which sea fisheries committees operate, with particular reference to(a) consistency of approach to minimum landing sizes, (b) the evidence required to achieve a prosecution, (c) the management of charter fishing vessels and (d) the impact of high-powered under 10m vessels. [128574]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 July 2000]: Under the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966, Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) have powers within their districts to control the size and power of vessels fishing and to set minimum landing sizes for fish and shellfish, provided these do not fall below those set by EU regulations. The Government are aware of SFC concerns about the inland extent of enforcement powers and is considering appropriate action. SFC bylaws apply as appropriate to the activities of under 10m fishing vessels and charter fishing boats. Responsibility for the registration of fishing and other vessels rests with the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen and vessels fishing for profit must hold a valid licence issued by one of the four Fisheries Departments in the UK.
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§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the trade in fishing licences and quota in the last three years; [128838]
(2) what plans he has to ensure that the trade in fishing entitlements (a) does not undermine the prospects of poor fishing regions, (b) does not worsen the prospects for new entrants to the industry, (c) is not sold to foreign or flag of convenience vessels and (d) does not result in a concentration of quota in the hands of fewer owners. [128839]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 July 2000]: Trade in fishing vessel licences and the fishing opportunities associated with them have been initiated by fishermen themselves. The trade enables new entrants to join the industry and gives fishermen the opportunity to restructure their operations to meet their own business needs. All licensing transactions and exchanges of quota between groups with quota management responsibilities must be conducted in accordance with the rules on licensing and quota management drawn up by the Fisheries Departments in the UK.
These arrangements are the subject of regular consultation with the fishing industry and are currently under review by two working groups comprising representatives of industry and the Fisheries Departments. A report on possible modifications to the quota management rules, including arrangements for adjusting the fixed quota allocation units attached to fishing vessel licences to take account of transfers between fishermen, is expected shortly and a further report on licensing is expected towards the end of the year.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of a renewable 10-year derogation for national fishing rights within 12 miles of the United Kingdom shore, with particular reference to(a) the length of the derogation, (b) its operation by his Department, (c) its operation by the sea fisheries committees, (d) the exercising of historic rights of other EU member states, and (e) the ability to conserve stock for the future benefit of the fishing industry. [128575]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 July 2000]: As I have already made clear, the Government wish to maintain national 6/12 mile limits when the current EU derogation (under which they operate) expires at the end of 1992, together with current access arrangements based on historic rights under the Common Fisheries Policy. Restrictions on access to waters between six and 12 miles, together with the setting in the EU of Total Allowable Catches and quotas for commercial stocks and EU national, and local technical conservation rules assist, in conserving fish stocks for the future benefit of the fishing industry and of consumers. I shall shortly be discussing with the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees a paper they are preparing entitled "2002 and Beyond" which will, I understand, argue for change in the extent of Sea Fisheries Committee jurisdictions from their present limit of six miles.
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§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the efficiency and probity of giving producer organisations in the fishing industry opportunities to manage the distribution of some quota allocations to their members; [128840]
(2) what (a) amounts and (b) proportions of the United Kingdom's fishing quota are not directly allocated to licensed vessels for each year since 1995 and for the current year. [128841]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 4 July 2000]: In the UK, annual quotas are allocated to groups of fishermen rather than individual vessel owners. The groups are producer organisations (POs), the non-sector (all vessels over 10 metres not in membership of a PO) and the under 10 metre fleet. The quota allocations for the non-sector and the under 10 metre fleet are managed directly by the Fisheries Departments in the UK in consultation with the fishing industry.
Producer organisations have played an active part in managing quota for more than 10 years. It is for each PO to decide how to manage its allocations in the interests of its members. Before a PO is recognised for the purposes of quota management it must satisfy the appropriate Fisheries Department that it has the necessary systems in place to manage its quota allocations, to monitor landings by its members and to penalise any members who exceed their quota allocations. PO's management of quota is subject to the overall supervision of Fisheries Departments who prohibit further landings of fish by a PO's members once its quota allocations have been taken in full.