Written question asked by Candy Atherton (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 March 2005. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 10 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the European Commission regarding the pair trawl sea bass fishery.

Answer: Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the European Commission regarding the pair trawl sea bass fishery. [219867] Mr. Bradshaw: On 27 January the UK made a request to the European Commission for the UK prohibition on pair trawling within 12 miles of the south-west coast to be extended to vessels from other member states with historic rights of access to the six to 12 mile zone. On 21 February the Commission rejected the UK request. I am currently considering the Commission's response and our next steps, building on the Commission's commitment to find an effective solution to the bycatch problem in the south-west.

Secondary information