Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and Tavistock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase quota levels for the under-10 metres fishing fleet.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra is in the final stages of a permanent quota realignment exercise which will represent a14% uplift in the amount of quota the inshore fleet currently receives.
For species subject to the discard ban from January 2016, we have announced that the non-sector pools, which includes fishing vessels under 10 metres, will receive the first 100 tonnes of any quota uplift received and 10% of any remaining uplift. For 2016 this represents more than 1,000 tonnes of uplift to support the non-sector in their adaptation to the landing obligation.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is currently determining the 2016 monthly catch limits for the inshore fleet in light of the December 2015 Fisheries Council agreement. This quota will be used to maximise the income that can be achieved, while minimising discards for the non-sector fleet. The MMO welcomes views on quota management and utilisation of quota uplift for the non–sector via the MMO coastal quota advisory meetings and monthly quota consultations.
Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and Tavistock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take account of the shortage of vets in Devon and Cornwall when considering enforcement of fines for a failure to submit bovine TB tests in time.
Answered by George Eustice
We have made it clear to cattle keepers that they should contact their local APHA office if they think they will not be able to complete TB testing within the period of the testing window, which they are notified of in advance. In certain circumstances a new testing deadline can be agreed, with no financial penalty applied. Such circumstances would include where the keeper has clear evidence that they had done their best to meet the testing deadline. Any farmer who believes that he has been unfairly sanctioned for a breach of cross compliance rules can submit an appeal to the RPA.
Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and Tavistock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will request that the Marine Management Organisation review catch limits for skate and ray for vessels under 10 metres calculated using data from January 2014, when persistent bad weather prevented smaller fishing vessels putting to sea.
Answered by George Eustice
Monthly catch limits for 2015 were informed by landings data from the three year period 2012-2014. The Government secured a rollover of the 2014 skate and ray quota for 2015, meaning that fishermen will not see a reduction in the volume of fish they may catch this year. The Marine Management Organisation is holding a meeting with key industry representatives in the South West on 21st January to discuss and seek input to quota management in this region in 2015.
Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and Tavistock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will review Marine Management Organisation policy on unannounced visits and inspections.
Answered by George Eustice
The Marine Management Organisation’s (MMO) use of unannounced visits and inspections is an important element within its compliance and enforcement activities. The use of unannounced visits is always considered carefully by the MMO and these are only undertaken when other forms of inspection would be less effective.
Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and Tavistock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to prevent the North Devon fishing industry being subject to a ban on the landing of ray.
Answered by George Eustice
On 12 October, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) closed the Area VII skates and rays fishery to all English vessels. This decision was taken after the latest landings information indicated that, after allowance is made for landings already made but not yet entered onto the MMO database, the UK quota for this stock has been exhausted. Attempts to acquire additional quota through international quota swaps in order to keep the fishery open have not yet been successful.
It is important that the UK does not exceed the quotas allocated to it, which can result in penalties being applied. This would make subsequent management of the fisheries more difficult. However, I have asked the MMO to monitor the situation closely to see if there is any possibility of reopening the fishery on a limited basis if the level of unrecorded landings is lower than anticipated. I have also asked MMO to redouble its efforts to obtain additional quota through international swaps. Even if sufficient quota cannot be found to enable the fishery to reopen this year, it will reopen on 1 January 2015.
Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and Tavistock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will seek a derogation from the proposed prohibition on driftnet fisheries, amending Council Regulations (EC) No. 850/98, (EC) No. 812/2004, (EC) No. 2187/2005 and (EC) No. 1967/2006 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No. 894/97 for the purpose of preventing the elimination of local inshore herring fishery in northern Devon.
Answered by George Eustice
The Government opposes the European Commission’s proposal for a prohibition on driftnet fisheries, which is not consistent with the new regional fisheries management approach under the reformed Common Fisheries Policy. We strongly support the continuation of sustainable driftnet fisheries such as the herring fishery in northern Devon. I recently wrote to the Fisheries Commissioner to highlight our concerns and we will continue to seek other opportunities to do so.