HC Deb 05 May 2000 vol 349 cc250-1W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which United Kingdom fisherman's associations and other bodies are involved in the Irish Sea Cod Recovery Programme; which other maritime states are represented; and if he will make a statement. [118692]

Mr. Morley

The Fisheries Departments in the UK have been in close consultation with the UK fishing industry and other interests both directly and through the Irish Sea Panel of the Fisheries Conservation Group about the development of the Irish Sea Cod Recovery Programme. The organisations consulted include:

  • National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
  • Scottish Fishermen's Federation
  • Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers' Organisation
  • Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation
  • United Kingdom Association of Fish Producers' Organisations
  • Fleetwood Fish Producers' Organisation
  • Fleetwood Fish Forum
  • Associated British Ports
  • Sea Fish Industry Authority
  • Association of Sea Fisheries Committees
  • Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee
  • North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee
  • Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of the Isle of Man
  • Fleetwood and Barrow in Furness Inshore Fishermen.

Representatives of the UK fishing industry, together with officials and scientists from the Fisheries Departments have attended two regional consultative meetings with the Commission in Brussels. The other countries which have cod quota in the Irish Sea—Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland—have also been involved in the development of the Recovery Plan.

I welcome this close involvement of fishermen in the preparation of regional measures for stock conservation and recovery.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what compensation he proposes to offer to British and Irish beamers to stop fishing in the Irish Sea. [119237]

Mr. Morley

None. UK beamers volunteered to stay out of the area of the Irish Sea which was closed to protect spawning cod. I am grateful to them for the responsible lead they took in furthering an important conservation objective and to the Irish Government, with whom we co-operate closely on many fisheries issues of common interest, for agreeing to keep their beam trawlers out of the closed area between 13 March and 1 May.