§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Maritime and Coastguard Agency workboat code was last revised; and what application the Maritime and Coastguard Agency workboat code has to the aquaculture and fishing industries. [3751]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Workboat Code came into force in August 1998 and has not been revised. The code is currently under review as part of a harmonisation project designed to produce a single code of practice for all small commercial vessels. This review is due for completion in March 2002.
The Workboat Code sets safety standards for vessels undertaking aquaculture (e.g. fish and shellfish farming). It does not apply to vessels engaged in commercial fish catching.