Written question asked by Mark Lazarowicz (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 10 May 2002. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Friday, 10 May 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, what steps she is taking to prevent trawling damage to seabed communities. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to prevent trawling damage to seabed communities. [54870] Mr. Morley: The Department is currently looking to establish Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas to extend the EC Habitats and Birds Directive beyond 12 nautical miles with a view to protecting vulnerable habitats and species. One potential site is an area of coral reef off the North West coast of Scotland known as the Darwin Mounds thought to have been subject to damage by trawl gear. We will work to get the Commission to bring forward the necessary legislation to restrict fishing activity where a habitat is in need of protection but is situated in international waters. More generally, one of our priorities for the forthcoming review of the Common Fisheries Policy is the greater integration of environmental concerns into fisheries policy: this will involve action to reduce the impact of fishing on non target species and sensitive habitats.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 54870; 385 c360W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Fisheries Environment protection Nature conservation Seas and oceans Seabed
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk