§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reduction in British fishing effort has been achieved so far in MAGP IV; and what reduction he hopes to gain by the end of that programme. [124453]
§ Mr. MorleyBetween 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1999 the capacity of the UK fleet was reduced by 3.2 per cent. in tonnage and 7.7 per cent. in engine power.
Between 1997 and 1999 the effort of those segments of the fleet for which there are MAGP effort objectives (that is, pelagic, beam trawl, demersal, seines, nephrops and distant water vessels), has been reduced by 5.7 per cent. (tonnage effort) and by 8.5 per cent. (power effort).
The UK has achieved its intermediate effort objectives and is on course in most segments to achieve its full capacity and effort objectives under the programme. However, capacity of the pelagic segment is currently some way outside its MAGP IV objective.