Written question asked by Alan Reid (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 31 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 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, pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Argyll and Bute at European Standing Committee A on 23rd April, column 7, what steps she is taking to persuade the European Commission that banning trawling for nephrops will have a very small impact on cod recovery. - (Holding answer 5 November 2002).

Answer: Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Answer to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute at European Standing Committee A on 23 April 2002 column 7, what steps she is taking to persuade the European Commission that banning trawling for nephrops will have a very small impact on cod recovery. [79607] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 5 November 2002]: The European Commission has yet to bring forward its proposals for the management of commercial fish stocks in 2003, following the recent recommendations from international scientists for a moratorium on most directed cod fishing and also on fishing for other species unless the taking of cod as a bycatch can be eliminated. We are working closely with the fishing industry to devise a package of measures which we can advocate in the EU and which will respect the scientific assessment whilst as far as possible keeping fishing opportunities open for the industry. We have already reminded the Commission of our view--substantiated last year by detailed scientific analysis--that curbing nephrops fishing brings minimal benefit to cod.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 392 c572W;392 c584W; 79607
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Fisheries Fishing catches EU action Shellfish Quotas White fish Total allowable catches Nephrops
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk