§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the sea fisheries committees, naming her appointee to each to represent the interests of recreational fishing. [132526]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 20 October 2003]: Members appointed by the Secretary of State to Sea Fisheries Committees (SFC) are appointed every four years and are expected to represent all the local fishing and marine environmental interests in the waters of the SFC district. The following were appointed after consultation with a range of recreational fishing organisations. These organisations are consulted as and when mid term vacancies arise.
- Cornwall SFC—Mr. Malcolm Gilbert
- Devon SFC—Mr. David Rowe
- Isles of Scilly SFC—Mr. Timothy Allsop
- Northumberland SFC—Mr. Cedric Bilverstone
- North Eastern SFC—Mr. Frank Nesbitt. Mr John Whitton
- NWNW SFC—Mr. Allan Marklew
- Southern SFC—Mr. Bob Watton
- South Wales SFC—Mr. B Williams
- Sussex SFC—Mr. Peter Reece
No recreational fishing organisations nominations have been appointed to the following;
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- Cumbria SFC
- Kent and Essex SFC
- Eastern SFC
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those fish species which may be(a) caught (i) within the 12 mile limit and (ii) outside the 12 mile limit and (b) landed below their normal spawning size. [132527]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 20 October 2003]: There is no distinction made in EU or national legislation between species which can be caught within and outside 12 miles.
Under EU legislation 38 species are subject to minimum landing sizes. Some Sea Fisheries Committees have introduced minimum sizes for additional species. Fisheries scientists generally advise that a minimum landing size should correspond to the average size of first maturity of female fish. However, this is difficult to achieve in practice when fish of different species, which grow to, and mature at, different sizes, are taken together in a mixed fishery, where the mesh size is not ideal for all species. Some minimum landing sizes, therefore, represent a compromise caused by the mixed fishery problem, and a desire to reduce the need to discard undersized fish. The table as follows lists the current minimum landings size, and recommended minimum landing size based on maturity criteria for some commercial species:
Biologically desirable minimum landing sizes (mls) Species Current mls Mls based on maturity criteria Cod 35 40–70 (depending on region) Haddock 30 35–40 Whiting 27 20–22 Saithe 35 60 Sole 24 26–28 Place 27 30–32 Hake 27 55 Megrim 20 26–28