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 assessment she has made of the potential effect of the blanket ban on bass on the North Devon fishing industry.
Answered by George Eustice
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply previously given on 22 January 2016, PQ UIN 22346.
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 recent steps she has taken to tackle bovine TB in Torridge and West Devon constituency; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
As outlined in a Written Ministerial Statement on 17 December 2015, the Government is taking strong action to deliver a long-term plan to eradicate the disease and protect the future of the UK’s dairy and beef industries. The comprehensive strategy includes strengthening cattle testing and movement controls, improving biosecurity on farm and when trading, and badger control in areas where TB is rife. As part of the strategy the Government wants to see badger control over a wider number of areas in line with the UK Chief Veterinary Officer’s advice.
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 assessment she has made of the effects of the ban on fishing for bass on the North Devon fishing industry.
Answered by George Eustice
The overall estimated reductions of the EU bass measures for the main gear groups in the commercial sector are set out in the following table; at this stage calculated for the UK fleet. This is an estimate which takes into account the effects of the initial 6 month moratorium, related derogations, and the subsequent monthly vessel catch limits.
Those parts of the industry that use hook and line and fixed gillnets will benefit from derogations in the form of higher monthly catch limits and a moratorium of 2 rather than 6 months.
More in depth analysis also taking into account additional factors such as the effects of last year’s increase of the minimum conservation reference size for bass and reduced availability of bass will be undertaken.
Gear type | Previous average tonnage 2011-13 | Estimated tonnage catch potential in 2016 | Estimated % reduction from 2011-13 average |
Bottom Trawl | 131 | 37 | 72% |
Nets | 378 | 224 | 41% |
Hook and line | 171 | 167 | 2% |
Purse seine | 56 | 21 | 63% |
pelagic trawl | 77 | 11 | 86% |
Totals | 813 | 460 | 43% |
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.