§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on shellfish fisheries in the United Kingdom. [144260]
§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding answer 8 January 2001]: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary announced on 10 January an industry-wide consultation on a licensing scheme to control shellfish activity. The proposal was developed within the UK Fisheries Conservation Group comprising members of the fishing industry, scientists and representatives of Fisheries Departments. I hope the wider industry will support this initiative so that appropriate controls can be introduced as soon as possible to conserve crab, lobster and crawfish throughout the UK.