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Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Mr. Paul Clark: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to amend the measures to control landings by vessels of 20 metres and over landing whitefish and shellfish into the United Kingdom. [79986] Mr. Morley: Following representations from the fishing industry, the Fisheries Departments have looked at the designated port arrangements which came into operation on 5 January 1999 to see whether any changes should be made in advance of the wider review to be undertaken this Autumn. The main concern was over the lack of flexibility in providing notice of landings into non-designated ports and outside specified hours at designated ports. After careful consideration, we are allowing fishermen to give between 4 and 24 hours notice of landing and 4 to 72 hours notice where landings take place on a Sunday or Monday. The Department will also exercise discretion to waive the requirement to give 4 hours notice of landing in cases of force majeure or exceptional difficulty. Additionally, some adjustments are being made to the specified landing times for Brixham, Grimsby, Hull, Kinlochbervie, Lerwick, Lochinver and Oban and the specified landing location for Kinlochbervie. As part of the Autumn Review, the Fisheries Departments will consider the role which satellite monitoring will play in the operation of the designated port arrangements from 1 January 2000 and the provision of satellite position reports as an alternative to the prior notification of landings at non-designated ports and outside designated landing times at designated ports. The changes will take effect from 19 April and are being notified to the owners of all vessels of 20 metres and over.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

328 c745W; 79986

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Fishing vessels Ports White fish Shellfish Satellites

Contains statistics

Yes