Written question asked by Owen Paterson (Conservative) on Monday, 18 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 November 2004. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 November 2004 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 discussions she has had within the Fisheries Council on introducing selective gear to reduce discards in the Eastern Irish Sea.

Answer: Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had within the Fisheries Council on introducing selective gear to reduce discards in the Eastern Irish Sea. [192958] Mr. Bradshaw: A number of measures to introduce more selective gear into the Irish Sea have already been agreed as part of the cod recovery plan. These include a requirement to use square mesh panels in demersal trawls using 80-99 mm mesh and headline panels in nets with meshes of 70-99 mm. We expect the Commission to bring forward a further technical conservation proposal next year.

Secondary information