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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether she plans to seek EU Commission approval for Fleetwood fishermen to use 110mm mesh in cod ends in the plaice fishery in the Eastern Irish Sea while retaining their full allocation of 22 days at sea per month; [192946] (2) what representations she has received from Fleetwood fishermen on effects of the operation of the Cod Recovery Plan on the plaice fishery in the Eastern Irish Sea; and what action she has taken in response. [192953] Mr. Bradshaw: I have met representatives of the Fleetwood fishing industry on several occasions this year. They expressed concerns that the EU days at sea scheme did not allow them sufficient days to use their preferred 100mm plus nets to target plaice and were therefore forced to use smaller mesh nets (which attracted a higher number of days) and thus increase their catches of undersized and juvenile fish. My officials explained that the scheme did, in fact, allow them to continue with their normal fishing patterns and offered to provide individual guidance, where required, to the fishermen concerned--which was subsequently taken up. Separately, we are discussing with the commission potential improvements to the operation of the scheme for the benefit of fishermen generally.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c351-2W; 192946;192953

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Conservation Fisheries Equipment Fishing gear White fish Irish Sea Fleetwood Plaice

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk