| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1140W—continued
New Deal
21. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the impact of the new deal for young people on the level of economic inactivity among young people. [153193]
Mr. Browne: We have received a number of representations from hon. Members, through Parliamentary Questions and correspondence.
I am happy to say that our new deal for young people programme has been hugely successful in helping to virtually eradicate long-term youth unemployment, helping more than 460,000 young people into work, including nearly 400 in the hon. Member's constituency.
Independent evaluation shows that the new deal has not only helped to increase youth employment, but has also benefited the economy to the tune of £500 million a year.
Pensioners
22. Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners are entitled to means-tested benefits. [153194]
Mr. Pond: We estimate that around half of all pensioner households across Great Britain are eligible for Pension Credit and other income related benefits and stand to gain on average £400 a year. Our priority is to target money on the poorest pensioners and there are already 1.4 million pensioner households on Pension Credit who are getting more money than they did before.
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1141W
The way we are assessing pensioners' incomes in Pension Credit is vastly different from the stigmatising weekly means tests of the past. We want all those pensioners who are eligible to apply for their entitlement. It would be a great shame if the phrase 'means-test' was allowed to get in the way of pensioners applying for what is rightfully theirs.
Departmental Files (Security)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to enhance the security of files in departmental file stores. [153188]
Mr. Browne: Currently, satisfactory arrangements are in place to ensure the security of files in DWP file stores operated by both departmental staff and our external supplier. The future contractual arrangements for delivery of this service, which we expect to announce soon, will take full account of the need to maintain security of information and the physical security of
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1142W
departmental files. We will closely manage and monitor the new contract to ensure that this remains the case.
Departmental Leaflets
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria his Department uses when deciding whether a leaflet which it publishes is to be made available only on its website. [149558]
Mr. Browne: The Department for Work and Pensions does not produce any leaflets or other publications in web-only format at present.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many permanent staff have left and not been replaced in his Department's offices in (a) Portsmouth, (b) Southampton and (c) the Isle of Wight in each of the last three years. [151632]
Maria Eagle: The information requested is in the table.
| 2001–02(1) | 2002–03(1) | 2003 to date(2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff leaving | Staff recruited | Staff leaving | Staff recruited | Staff leaving | Staff recruited | |
| Portsmouth | 24 | 34 | 52 | 35 | 34 | 3 |
| Southampton | 20 | 32 | 40 | 17 | 40 | 11 |
| Isle of Wight | 4 | 46 | 14 | 34 | 8 | 14 |
(1) 2001–02 and 2002–03 figures are from 1 April to 31 March.
(2) 2003 figures are from 1 April to 30 November.
Note:
Figures are for Jobcentre Plus, The Pension Service, Child Support Agency and Corporate Centre staff based in the offices in question.
Source:
FAMIS/Rebus data extracts
Housing Benefit Department (Swale)
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional resources he will offer to resolve the on-going problems in the housing benefit department at Swale Borough Council. [153728]
Mr. Pond: The Government are investing £200 million over this and the next two financial years to help local authorities make improvements in their administration of housing benefit. Swale Borough Council has been awarded funding for a training officer post, and we will be pleased to consider additional bids from the council.
In addition, and in recognition of the problems experienced by Swale Borough Council the Department has provided free consultancy assistance from its Help Team.
The Help Team worked with the council for six weeks during the period 29 September 2003 to 12 December 2003. During that time assistance was provided to the council in the development of a project plan to clear its backlog of outstanding benefits work. In addition, work was also undertaken on the introduction of a communications strategy, a review of existing policies and procedures plus a review of how benefits work and staff are organised.
Work in all these areas is continuing and is being regularly monitored by the Help Team. The results of this monitoring show that the council has made good progress in clearing its backlog of work and is currently ahead of its target for full clearance.
Post Office Accounts
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress in moving manual pension payments to direct payment, with particular reference to Post Office accounts. [153631]
Mr. Pond: The overall move to direct payment is progressing well.
The conversion process, from manual payments to payments credited directly in to bank accounts, started with invitation letters being sent to some customers in October 2002 and involves contacting approximately 14.25 million customers. We have already written to 8 million customers and so far over 3.5 million have provided their bank account details, and over 2 million have requested a Post Office card account.
Key figures on the progress of conversion to direct payment are available in the Library, updated every four weeks.
Winter Fuel Payment
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of pensioners entitled to
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1143W
the winter fuel payment in (a) Norfolk and (b) Great Britain had received the payment by (i) 1 January and (ii) 20 January; and if he will make a statement. [153033]
Malcolm Wicks: It is not possible to provide payment figures separately for Norfolk. Neither can we provide an estimate of the percentage of eligible people in receipt of a winter fuel payment using DWP administrative data because we do not have complete information on household circumstances and payments are based on household composition.
By 1 January 11,570,389 winter fuel payments had been made in Great Britain for winter 2003–04. This figure had not changed at 20 January.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Cod
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the effect of the extension piece on a demersal trawl on the selectivity of the cod end. [150920]
Mr. Bradshaw: Under the 2001 Fishing Industry/Science partnership funded by SEERAD, trials were carried out with a pair seine team to assess the effect of very long extensions on catch composition. Two cases were investigated using the alternate haul method; one with an extension of 200 meshes, the other of 500 meshes long. No significant differences were found in the catches or discards for haddock or whiting. No significant amounts of juvenile cod were retained.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria her Department uses when deciding whether a leaflet which it publishes is to be made available only on its website. [149555]
Alun Michael: Leaflets and other printed material are normally made available in electronic form via Defra's website, at the same time as they are published or circulated. Where documents are only published via the website (and not in printed form), this is based on an assessment of factors such as the audience for the document, the nature of the material and its anticipated lifetime, whether speed of distribution electronically is particularly important, and cost-efficiency issues.
Fisheries
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of whether the behaviour of fish species is constant, with particular reference to escape strategies when confronted with a towed trawl. [150901]
Mr. Bradshaw: Fish reaction depends on the fish species, individual physiology, swimming capacity and condition. Throughout the capture process, the density of fish will be important in determining the reaction of individual fish. The environmental conditions such as temperature, light conditions and seabed type will also have an effect. Fishing gear will also influence fish reaction, mainly through the visual stimuli it creates
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1144W
relative to the background. These fundamental mechanisms of fish reaction may be relatively constant whereas individual reactions will be determined entirely by the particular circumstances to which a fish is subjected at any given moment.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where the primary (a) sandeel, (b) cod and (c) haddock fisheries in the North Sea are. [149134]
Mr. Bradshaw: Sandeel fishing occurs on grounds where sediment type and oceanography facilitate high concentrations of sandeels. These grounds mainly occur on the western edge of the Dogger Bank, and around the Fisher Bank. A sandeel fishing area off the Firth of Forth is currently closed.
Cod fishing is more widespread. It occurs in the Southern Bight from the eastern Channel to the Dutch coast, off north east coast England from the Humber to Tyne, in part of the German Bight, and in a wide arc from the Skagerrak along the edge of the Norwegian trench to the northern North Sea and the waters east and west of Orkney and Shetland.
Haddock fishing is also widespread, from the Skagerrak to a large part of the northern North Sea, down the western side of the North Sea from Shetland and Orkney to the east coast of Scotland, as far as north east England. Haddock are sparse south of the Dogger Bank.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the significance is of the catch per unit effort index; and what part it plays in estimating fish stocks. [150247]
Mr. Bradshaw: Catch per unit of fishing effort is an index that is approximately proportional to the abundance of the fishable stock. A time series of such data could describe stock trends, provided that the index is representative of the whole stock, and is not biased by year to year changes in vessel efficiency, selectivity, or fishing strategy. Such bias can affect the catch per effort of commercial vessels, whereas the index derived from research surveys that fish standard stations using a standard gear year on year is not affected in this way, and is therefore more suitable for tuning ICES stock assessments.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what techniques are available to fishermen to (a) minimise the catch of juvenile fish and (b) maximise the size of fish caught in demersal trawls. [150249]
Mr. Bradshaw: For optimal stock exploitation each species needs to be caught at a particular size and age, dependent mainly on its growth rate and maturity. The exploitation rate for each species is determined by the design of the gear used to fish it as well as the effort exerted on the stock. Technical Conservation Measures regulating the design of gear are the main method of limiting the catch of juvenile fish. Such controls are imposed by limits on codend mesh size and twine size, the number of open meshes around the codend circumference, the use of lifting bags, the length of
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1145W
extension and the use of attachments. Also selective devices such as square mesh panels and grids may be mandatory.
Limits on the capture of larger fish are imposed by restrictions on effort or quotas. It is not necessarily optimal to take the largest fish from the sea as these may be the most successful reproductively.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of (a) visual and (b) aural devices attached to trawls to improve the selectivity of fishing in demersal fisheries; [150250]
- (2) what assessment her Department has made of the relative importance of (a) aural and (b) visual triggers in the escape responses of ground fish in relation to the approach of a towed trawl. [150898]
Mr. Bradshaw: Since the 1950s, studies have shown that vision is very important in determining fish reaction to gears at all stages of the capture process. A variety of experiments have been carried out at the FRS Marine Laboratory, for example on horizontal panels to separate species within a trawl or the use of different coloured twine in escape panels. These studies suggest that when used appropriately, and under certain circumstances (i.e. where light levels are sufficient for the fish to react) such visual devices can subtly improve selectivity. A review is currently being compiled through the ICES Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour Working Group of the reactions and behaviour of fish to visual components of fishing gears and the effect on catchability in survey and commercial fishing gears.
Reactions of fish to aural stimuli are less clear although it is thought that,when they hear threatening sounds, fish adopt a state of heightened awareness such that they may be more ready to react to subsequent visual cues. There has been little research on the use of aural devices to improve selectivity.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments her Department has made of the effectiveness of turned-mesh netting in (a) improving the escape rate of juvenile fish and (b) reducing the attendant mortality; and what the operational disadvantages are of such netting. [150252]
Mr. Bradshaw: Turned mesh netting is standard diamond mesh turned through 90o. Because of the way the twine is knotted, turned meshes tend to remain wider open when under longitudinal tension than standard meshes. Knot slippage and mesh distortion may occur but these problems might be overcome by heat setting the knots or using double knots. Experiments in the Baltic have suggested that selectivity is improved when using turned mesh netting, i.e. more juvenile fish escape. No long-term trials have been carried out in the North Sea on these options although Seafish Industry Authority are planning trials in 2004 on the use of turned mesh in prawn trawl codends.
In April 2004, an ICES Working Group will examine all the recent experimental data from the Baltic on turned mesh selectivity to assess the effect of this netting type. The findings will be published. No information is available on the mortality of escapees from such netting.
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1146W
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the effect of (a) square knotless netting and (b) knotted diamond-mesh netting used for escape panels on (i) different species, (ii) the proportion of escapees and (iii) the mortality of escapees. [150253]
Mr. Bradshaw: Square mesh netting is often used in escape panels because diamond mesh netting closes under tension. Diamond mesh netting can be used as square mesh netting by turning it through 45°. However, in these circumstances the knots in knotted netting are liable to slip unless specially treated, leading to distortion of the meshes. Certain types of knotless netting have been found to be more stable. Legislation allows either knotted or knotless netting as long as knot slippage does not occur. No information is available comparing the selective properties or the resulting escape mortality of these two netting types used in escape panels.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what facilities exist in the United Kingdom for flume-tank testing of trawl designs to improve the selectivity of fishing; and what facilities exist in (a) Europe and (b) the USA for this purpose. [150294]
Mr. Bradshaw: At their Fisheries Development Centre in Hull the Seafish Industry Authority operate the only flume tank in the UK. Similar flume tanks exist in Hirtshals (Denmark), Lorient and Boulogne (France) and St. Johns (Canada). Trawl designs can be tested at towing tank facilities at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA).
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evaluation her Department has made of the suitability of Baltic panels of (a) Danish and (b) Swedish design in North Sea fisheries. [150295]
Mr. Bradshaw: A sub-group of the ICES Working Group on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour reported on the selectivity of these Baltic panels in comparison with standard diamond mesh codends in 1995 and 1996. A comprehensive study of the selectivity of these devices was also conducted as part of the EU-funded 'Bacoma' project and published in 2000. It was found that selectivity for cod was better when the panels were placed in the top panel of the codend. A later joint UK and Danish project was funded by the EU to compare the selective performance of both side and top panels in North Sea fisheries. Cod and haddock selectivity was either as good or better with the top panels.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she estimates the (a) minimum and (b) expected cod by-catch would be from vessels operating in mixed cod and haddock fisheries, using selective gear (i) designed and (ii) adapted to minimise the cod catch. [150299]
Mr. Bradshaw: A range of designs of selective gear could be used to reduce the cod catch in mixed cod and haddock fisheries. The choice of design will depend on the mix of species on the grounds, the species targeted by the fishermen and practical issues such as ease of
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1147W
handling. Seldom are only cod and haddock caught. A fisherman will choose a design that is practical and gives him an economic return in terms of catch composition for his particular market. In each fishery (e.g. English, Irish, Scottish, Danish, French or Norwegian) fishermen will make different choices of gear design.
An EU-funded project (Recovery) involving most countries bordering the North Sea is currently developing such gears for several mixed species fisheries in the North Sea (Scottish whitefish, Danish whitefish, English Nephrops and Netherlands/Belgian beam trawl fisheries). The industries in each country are involved closely in these projects through industry liaison groups.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what effect oil and gas (a) rigs and (b) pipelines in the North Sea have on the distribution of (i) cod and (ii) other demersal species. [150309]
Mr. Bradshaw: Cod, other gadoid fish, and some shellfish, appear to be attracted to pipelines, thus creating higher density aggregations that attract fishermen. Cod may also be attracted to the vicinity of rigs, from which fishermen are excluded.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has commissioned studies to determine the significance of differences in catch ability between (a) survey trawl gear and (b) commercial trawl gear, with particular reference to catches of monkfish. [150310]
Mr. Bradshaw: Studies to determine the significance of differences between survey trawl gear and commercial trawl gear have not been commissioned as these gears are used for different purposes.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the (a) development and (b) testing of the Eurogrid project; what findings have been released; and what the cost is of the United Kingdom contribution to this project. [150311]
Mr. Bradshaw: A whitefish grid system, the Eurogrid, suitable for use on board most North Sea trawlers for demersal towed gear fisheries has been developed and tested. The grid is made of polyamide, a material selected for high elasticity and strength.
To investigate the selective properties of the Eurogrid, experiments were conducted onboard commercial fishing vessels in all five participating countries (Denmark, France, Norway, Scotland and Sweden). The experiments covered four different species (cod, haddock, whiting, saithe) and five different bar distances. Efforts were made to determine the effective selectivity of the compound gear, consisting of both grid and codend combined, as well as individual components.
The large variability of vessel and gear sizes, deck layout and gear handling methods between individual national fleets necessitated the use of different experimental designs for measuring selectivity. These differences meant that no final conclusions could be drawn as to the selective properties of the Eurogrid compared to a standard 100 mm diamond meshed
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1148W
codend. However, the results indicate that they are similar to those of other sorting grids used in bottom trawl.
The user-friendliness of the Eurogrid (the low weight, flexibility and ability to be wound around a net drum) makes this a good option in fisheries where grids may be made mandatory. Alternatively it could be used on a voluntary basis. To accompany the final report an installation manual explaining to each fishing industry how the grid is fitted into the gear is available in each of the five languages, together with a short videotape describing the project. In the UK the final design of Eurogrid was featured on the Fisheries Research Services (Marine Laboratory) stand at Fishing 2003 in the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow. A paper summarising the final report is currently being prepared for a refereed scientific publication.
The United Kingdom contributed a total of £323,212 to this project, but this was offset by income of £190,000 from the EU under the 5th Framework programme of research.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from (a) fishermen and (b) their representatives on the accuracy of scientific assessments of the levels of fish stocks; and what assessment she has made of alternative modelling paradigms from non-International Council for the Exploration of the Sea sources. [150316]
Mr. Bradshaw: Some claim that the assessment methods underestimate the amount of fish in depleted stocks subject to recovery plans, although some also appear to accept the results of the same methods applied to stocks that are either stable or increasing. An alternative 'paradigm', which is not about stock assessment but about how stocks should be managed, has been considered, but we do not accept that in the ocean the remedy to over-fishing is to fish even harder.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether cod migration occurs from the North Sea to the Atlantic fisheries; and whether migration is increased by inter-species competition and pressure on food supplies. [150475]
Mr. Bradshaw: There is no scientific evidence that cod move out into the Atlantic fishing areas, or that migrations have been affected by food availability or inter-specific competition.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the factors that determine whether a fish species will predate on its own spawn; and what measures can be taken to avoid this in commercial fisheries. [150477]
Mr. Bradshaw: Some species eat the eggs of other fish species, but the literature provides no evidence from around the UK that self-predation of spawn is a significant factor affecting commercial marine species with pelagic eggs.
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1149W
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence her Department has collated on migration of cod stocks (a) to and (b) from the North Sea, and (i) to and (ii) from International Council for the Exploration of the Seas areas IVa and IVb; and what assessment she has made of whether all cod stocks exhibit similar migration patterns. [150486]
Mr. Bradshaw: Tagging experiments have demonstrated that mature cod aggregate in numerous parts of the North Sea during the winter spawning season, and disperse later to occupy more widely distributed feeding grounds in summer. Most cod stocks exhibit broadly similar annual movement patterns, but their distance and complexity differ considerably between stocks.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers Fisheries Regional Advisory Committees will have (a) to decide on the regional total allowable catches for their areas and (b) to designate technical conservation measures; and what enforcement powers they will have. [152169]
Mr. Bradshaw: Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) will be advisory bodies and will not at the outset have the power to take management decisions. Nevertheless, they will develop and prove themselves over time. Subject to a review, the role of RACs may strengthen in the future, but any extension of their powers would need to be agreed by Council on the basis of a Commission proposal.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk to porpoises in UK waters from fixed seabed fishing nets; and if she will make a statement. [151988]
Mr. Bradshaw: We have carried out extensive research into the by-catch of harbour porpoises in set net fisheries. This research is set our in detail in the UK Small Cetacean By-catch Response Strategy published last year along with recommendations for action to reduce by-catch in these fisheries. I hope to make an announcement shortly on the implementation of this strategy.
However, to be effective, action to address the by-catch problem is required on the part of all EU member states involved in the fisheries concerned, not just the UK. Discussions are currently taking place on European Commission proposals to protect dolphins and porpoises from injury or death in fishing gear.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the European Commission and (b) her European Union counterparts on the protection of dolphins from by-catch by trawler nets; and if she will make a statement. [152004]
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1150W
Mr. Bradshaw: The importance of reducing dolphin and other small cetacean by-catch has been raised by the UK at ministerial level with the Fisheries Commissioner on a number of occasions and bilaterally with France. In particular, the UK has pressed for the introduction of a observer programme across the EU to broaden the information available about which fisheries, and which vessels, are involved in the dolphin by-catch problem.
The Commission published, on 24 July 2003, a draft Council regulation concerning the incidental by-catch of cetaceans in fisheries. Discussions on this proposal are currently under way at official level.
Defra is also continuing to fund work on the deployment of a separator grid to reduce dolphin by-catch in the offshore pair trawl fishery for bass. These trials have demonstrated that separator grids could provide the means to minimise dolphin by-catch in this fishery and the results of this research are being shared with European colleagues.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many salt water fisheries survey vessels, operating in home waters, carry out work for or on behalf of her Department. [149141]
Mr. Bradshaw: CEFAS Lowestoft uses two salt water research vessels for fish stock surveys. In addition, under the devolved administrations, stock surveys are carried out by two salt water research vessels in Scotland (SEERAD/FRS), and one research vessel in Northern Ireland (DARDNI). The work of the various vessels is co-ordinated nationally and internationally.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on fisheries survey vessels carrying out work for or on behalf of her Department in each of the last five financial years. [149142]
Mr. Bradshaw: The costs of the sea-days used for the several regional surveys of fish stocks carried out by the CEFAS Lowestoft research vessels were as follows:
| Financial year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 1.09 |
| 1999–2000 | 1.02 |
| 2000–01 | 1.25 |
| 2001–02 | 1.73 |
| 2000–03 | 1.51 |
This does not include the cost of other sea-going studies by CEFAS vessels.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the implications are of fish categorised as grey fish being landed for the (a) accuracy of catch landing data and (b) estimation of fish stocks. [150921]
Mr. Bradshaw: Landings are an important factor in calculating fish mortality (the amount of fish taken from the sea) which forms an integral part of stock assessment.
9 Feb 2004 : Column 1151W
The amount of fish discarded at sea is another factor. The quality of data will impact on forecasting certainty and scientific advice on the state of fish stocks. It does not follow however that higher than recorded landings mean that individual fish stocks are in a healthier state.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the amount by which it would be safe to increase haddock quotas in (a) tonnage and (b) percentage terms above 2003 levels in ICES areas IVa and IVb if other fish stocks were disregarded. [150855]
Mr. Bradshaw: For this stock, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) expresses the single species exploitation boundary as the precautionary level of fishing effort (Fpa). ICES did not make a specific forecast for 2004 because of the difficulty of estimating the biomass levels due to uncertainty about recent landings data. It would not, in any case, be safe to disregard other fish stocks in setting haddock quotas.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |