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Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when and for what reason he decided to transfer 200 tonnes of plaice and sole to Belgium; and what consultations he held with the industry. [119236] Mr. Morley: A "Gentlemen's Agreement" has been reached with Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands-- welcomed by the UK industry--on the withdrawal of beam trawlers until 1 May from the northern part of the Irish sea closed to protect spawning cod. In the context of arriving at that agreement, the UK undertook to transfer 190 tonnes of North Sea plaice and 5 tonnes of sole in ICES Areas VIId and VIIfg to the Belgian authorities for them to allocate. This transfer was in recognition of the goodwill shown by the Belgians, who have substantial flatfish quotas in the Irish sea, in reaching agreement with us and of our on-going co-operation with them in matters of quota management including assistance with quota transfer to ourselves. The transfer was not the subject of prior consultation with the industry but it came from stocks that were underfished in 1999, particularly North sea plaice where the underfish exceeded 10,000 tonnes. No British fisherman will suffer a reduction in fishing opportunities as a result of this arrangements. 50 tonnes of North sea sole obtained through economic link license conditions has also been allocated to the inshore sector.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

119236; 349 c376-7W

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Fisheries Republic of Ireland Netherlands Belgium Total allowable catches Sole Plaice

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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