§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what evidential basis her Department stated that fisheries in cod related fisheries will be able to fish for 15 days per month, with reference to the terms of Annex XVII to regulation 2341/2002. [91772]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 20 January 2003]: Annex XVII to the Regulation provides in paragraph 6a for nine days at sea per month for fishing vessels carrying demersal trawls, seines or similar towed gear of mesh size equal to or greater than 100mm except beam trawls. Paragraphs 6b and 6c provide for the Commission to allocate additional days to Member States in certain circumstances. During the Council the Commission confirmed to me that on the basis of these paragraphs the UK will be allocated a further six days per month for vessels carrying the above gear types, bringing the total to 15.