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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 27 June 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 July 2018. It was answered by George Eustice (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 July 2018 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Fisheries: Netherlands

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with EU officials on the use of electric shock fishing methods in Holland which are illegal in the UK.

Answer

There have been no discussions with EU officials on electric shock fishing methods which are illegal in the UK. Discussions on the use of electric pulse beam trawls in the southern North Sea have been ongoing. These have occurred as EU institutions consider the derogation which has allowed 5% of each Member State’s beam trawl fleet to fish using pulse technology in EU waters, for the last ten years. The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council negotiating position agreed in February this year was to maintain the current derogation, although the UK advocated its suspension pending further scientific evidence.

During consideration of the latest available science on pulse fishing at the June meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, I emphasised a particular UK interest in this issue and signposted original research being carried out by our own scientists on this technology which is due to report in 2019.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
158248
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Fisheries Electric shock equipment Netherlands
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk