Written question asked by Alan Reid (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 4 November 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 the Answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, to the honourable Member for Argyll and Bute at European Standing Committee A on 23rd April, Official Report, column 7, if she will place in the Library (a) her Department's evidence to the European Commission which demonstrated that the level of cod by-catch in the nephrops fishery was very small and that the Commission's figures were an overestimate and (b) the European Commission's response; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute at European Standing Committee A on 23 April, 2002 Official Report, column 7, if she will place in the Library (a) her Department's evidence to the European Commission which demonstrated that the level of cod by-catch in the nephrops fishery was very small and that the Commission's figures were an overestimate and (b) the European Commission's response; and if she will make a statement. [80055] Mr. Morley: The Fisheries Departments in the UK submitted material to the European Commission on several occasions in 2001, refuting in detail the Commission's argument that cutting nephrops fishing significantly benefits cod stocks. The specifics of this correspondence are confidential, but the basis of the case was figures demonstrating that landings of cod did not increase in line with landings of nephrops. This material was submitted in support of the UK's request for in-year restoration of the cuts that were made to the Total Allowable Catches for nephrops in the North Sea, in the Irish Sea and West of Scotland in 2001: in response, the Commission did not agree to restore the cuts, but did subsequently largely withdraw its proposals for further substantial cuts for 2002. Restoration of the cuts made in 2001 is an issue we are still actively pressing with the Commission.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 392 c572W;392 c584-5W; 80055
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