§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps are being taken to ensure that cod fish stocks in Britain have a sustainable and profitable future. [HL5060]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)In December 2002 the UK and other member states agreed emergency measures which limit the days at sea of vessels which take cod either as a target species or as a bycatch. We are discussing with member states and the European Commission a longer-term recovery plan.
We have also agreed a range of technical measures intended to reduce the amount of juvenile cod taken by fishing gear. An area of the Irish Sea has been closed during the spring spawning season for four successive years.