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26 Nov 2007 : Column 38W—continued



26 Nov 2007 : Column 39W

26 Nov 2007 : Column 40W
Table 2: 10 metre and under landings( 1) by English port of administration, 2006
Total landings Quota landings
Administration Port Tonnes £000 Tonnes £000 Value of quota

North Shields

1,724

5,520

1,088

2,852

52

Scarborough

895

3,178

80

130

4

Grimsby

885

2,561

6

10

0

Lowestoft

1,709

3,314

487

1,463

44

Hastings

5,925

6,944

1,188

3,502

50

Poole

4,118

5,642

130

574

10

Plymouth

1,163

2,078

324

548

26

Newlyn

3,884

6,994

1,535

1,828

26

Brixham

2,068

2,988

280

678

23

Fleetwood

217

437

54

111

25

Total

22,588

39,656

5,173

11,698

29

(1) Total quantity and value of landings reported by vessels involved in commercial sea fishing reported to UK Fisheries Administrations, excluding landings by vessels that are members of producer organisations.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) by what method he calculates the maximum sustainable yield for each UK fishery; and if he will make a statement; [165517]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effort reduction necessary in each UK fishery to ensure that maximum sustainable yield targets are met; and if he will make a statement. [165509]

Jonathan Shaw: Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) derives from classical fisheries science which states that in the long-term there is an average maximum catch that can be obtained from a stock, without threatening its future viability. This is achieved by fishing at the MSY level (MSYL). This level varies with both the biology (growth and mortality rates) of the stock in question and the fishing practices (including mesh size) used to catch it. The MSY will also depend upon the productivity of the stock. For most of our stocks, the MSYL is at relatively low fishing mortality—typically much lower than exists at present.

Reducing effort to MSY levels implies smaller catches in the short-term, with potential impacts on profitability and the size of the fleet. In the longer-term, however, fishing at MSY levels should ensure greater profitability (catches-per-unit-effort would be higher), improved sustainability and a more robust stock.

Several stocks are currently at or around MSY and can therefore be the continued basis for sustainable fisheries; for example, haddock and saithe. However, we are seeking to develop a common understanding with stakeholders of how we can best approach the issue of long-term management and the role of MSY more generally. In particular, there are significant potential socio-economic consequences with such an approach and it is important to ensure that the UK fishing industry has a sustainable long-term future. We will need to consider carefully how best to achieve a successful balance between stock conservation and fishing opportunity and the appropriate time frame(s) for this process.

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons for the reduction in the number of boardings by the Fisheries Protection Squadron (FPS) from 1746 in 1997 to 1279 in 2006; what the number of boardings were per FPS (a) vessel and (b) sortie in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [166203]

Jonathan Shaw: The reduction in the number of inspections at sea since 1997 can largely be attributed to:

The number of inspections per patrol vessel is set out below for 1999 and 2006. Information on the number of inspections per vessel for 1997 and on the number of inspections per sortie is not readily available.

Inspections per vessel 1999( 1)
Number Vessel

Leeds Castle

164

OPV

Alderney

217

OPV

Anglesey

39

OPV

Guernsey

247

OPV

Lindisfarne

222

OPV

Orkney

169

OPV

Shetland

187

OPV

Berkeley

177

IPV

Bicester

135

IPV

Brocklesby

121

IPV

Middleton

113

IPV

Quorn

31

IPV

Total

1,822

(1) Collated from local records including inspections not recorded on Database.


Inspections per vessel 2006
Number Vessel

Mersey

346

OPV

Severn

306

OPV

Tyne

373

OPV

Cattistock

76

IPV

Chiddingfold

75

IPV

Hurworth

3

IPV

Ledbury

59

IPV

Quorn

41

IPV

Total

1,279

IPV

OPV =( )Offshore patrol vessel IPV = Inshore patrol vessel

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many patrol days have been lost for the River Class offshore patrol vessels as a result of (a) routine maintenance, (b) non-routine maintenance and (c) repairs in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [166432]


26 Nov 2007 : Column 41W

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.

No patrol days have been lost by the River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels during the last 12 months. Each vessel undergoes two planned routine maintenance periods each year: one of nine days duration and one of 16 days duration. During the last 12 months all non-routine maintenance and repairs were carried out within the routine maintenance periods or at other times when the vessels were not engaged on operational duties.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for how many patrol days each class of Fisheries Protection Squadron vessel will be available in each year of the new agreement beginning on 1 April 2008; and if he will make a statement. [166465]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.

Under the new Fisheries Protection Agreement between the MOD and DEFRA, which is due to begin on 1 April 2008, the River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels will be available for a total of 700 days during the first 12 months of the agreement. Thereafter, their availability will be between 650 and 750 days in each year. Each River class vessel will also undergo two planned routine maintenance periods each year: one of nine days duration and one of 16 days duration. The Hunt Class Mine Countermeasure vessels will also provide additional Fishery Protection duties, as and when required, although they will not be contracted to provide a set number of days.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on which dates there have been no Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron offshore patrol vessels in operation in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [166466]

Jonathan Shaw: During the period 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007, the dates when no River class patrol vessels were in operation on fisheries protection duties are shown in the following table.

Date(s) Reason

November 2006

5, 16

2 day stand off

December 2006

15, 16, 21-31

2 day stand off and 11 days Christmas leave

January 2007

1, 2, 15, 16, 30,31

2 day Christmas leave and 2 days stand off

February 2007

1, 2

COs conference

March 2007

12, 13, 23, 24

2 day stand off and 2 days at Chatham Conference

April 2007

27, 28

May 2007

11, 12, 26, 27

4 day stand off

June 2007

15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Davit failure—all Rivers recalled for rectification

July 2007

0

August 2007

3, 4

2 day stand off

September 2007

0

October 2007

11

Summary:
14 days—stand offs in the middle of patrols
13 days—Christmas leave—no vessels or aircraft tasked
4 days—attendance at conferences
5 days—Davit failure—all Rivers recalled
5 days—No Rivers
41 days—total days no Rivers on task

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