Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what has been the change in sea bass stocks available to the UK fishing industry since the Council of European Fisheries Ministers meeting in 2014.

George Eustice

Updated scientific advice is expected from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea at the end of June this year, which will provide the latest assessment. However, the overall estimated reductions of the EU bass measures for the main gear groups in the commercial sector are set out in the Table below (calculated for the UK fleet). These are estimates which take into account the effects of the initial six-month moratorium, related derogations and the subsequent monthly vessel catch limits.

Those parts of the industry that use hook-and-line and fixed gillnets benefit from derogations in the form of higher monthly catch limits and a moratorium of two, rather than six, months.

More in-depth analysis, also taking into account additional factors such as the effects of the 2015 increase in the minimum conservation reference size for bass, and reduced availability, will be undertaken.

Table. Estimated reductions in catch potential for UK bass stocks (%).