Written question asked by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 8 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 December 2003. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 18 December 2003 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, if she will make a statement on the progress of trials of active acoustic deterrents; when the trials will be completed; and when she expects to make an assessment of their effectiveness; what type of fisheries will be covered by active acoustic deterrents deployment trials; over what timescale the trials will be conducted; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the progress of trials of active acoustic deterrents; when the trials will be completed; and when she expects to make an assessment of their effectiveness; [143540] (2) what type of fisheries will be covered by active acoustic deterrents deployment trials; over what timescale the trials will be conducted; and if she will make a statement. [143541] Mr. Bradshaw: Defra is grant aiding a trial by the Sea Fish Industry Authority to assess the technical viability of using pingers on gill nets to prevent porpoise bycatch. The first phase has just been completed and the next phase with pingers modified to improve performance and to assess longer term durability is likely to start in February 2004. The timescale for this trial has not yet been fixed. The results will be presented in a Seafish Technical Report. The findings to date of these trials have been reviewed at a meeting of interested parties, including pinger manufacturers, under the auspices of a Biodiversity Action Plan for the protection of small cetaceans. This review has helped to inform the next stage of the trials. The trials will also be useful in determining the next steps of the UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy on which I hope to make an announcement early in the New Year, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 415 c1025W;415 c1025-6W; 143540;143541
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Cetaceans Fisheries Fishing catches Electronic equipment Fishing gear Nature conservation Porpoises Testing
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk