Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 28 November 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 December 2007. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 December 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Crabs: Conservation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of brown crab stocks in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Assessments of brown crab stocks are made by Government scientists at The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. Stocks are managed at both national and Sea Fisheries Committee level. Stocks appear to be stable at the moment but most brown crab grounds available to fisheries are known and fully utilised. The stocks are assessed in six ““stock management units”” defined as sea areas in England and Wales. Major crab fisheries exist in the Central North Sea, Southern North Sea, and Western Channel, while smaller crab fisheries exist in the Eastern Channel, Celtic Sea, and Irish Sea. Most crab fisheries tend to be heavily exploited and it would be inadvisable for fishing effort to increase beyond current levels. Females predominate in landings but there is no evidence of reduced levels of recruitment.

Secondary information