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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many UK fishing vessels are expected to start the deployment of pingers to prevent porpoise deaths in set net fisheries in the North Sea in June; and if she will bring forward the mandatory deployment of pingers to prevent porpoise deaths in set net fisheries in the English Channel and Celtic Sea. [222860] Mr. Bradshaw: Council Regulation (EC) no. 812/2004 requires, "inter alia", pinger usage from 1 June 2005 on vessels of 12 metres and over in the North Sea (ICES division IV) when using bottom-set gillnets or entangling nets where the mesh size used is greater than or equal to 220 mm. The number of vessels that are expected to fall into this category is eight. This figure is based on those involved in the fishery in 2004 but does not take into account movements into and out of the fishery. The Council Regulation requires the mandatory usage of pingers in the English Channel and Celtic Sea with effect from 1 January 2006 and 1 January 2007 respectively.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c640W; 222860

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Conservation Fisheries Fishing catches Fishing gear Porpoises North Sea English Channel Celtic Sea

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk