Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and West Devon)
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 merits of expanding the Marine Conservation Zone from Bideford to Foreland Point to include the Greencliff site.
Answered by George Eustice
This extension was proposed in a response to the consultation on the designation of this Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Boundary issues were examined where new relevant information or data were presented which had not previously been considered. Natural England analysed evidence submitted with the extension proposal and advised that it would increase the area of intertidal rock and seabed sediment habitats protected, but these were already protected elsewhere within the MCZ, and in the wider network. Any proposed changes to the boundary cannot be made without further consultation with other stakeholders who may be affected by the change.
Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and West Devon)
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 trends in the overall size of the under-10 metres fishing fleet in (a) England, (b) the South West of England and (c) Devon.
Answered by George Eustice
The Department publishes details on the structure of the UK fishing fleet, including vessels of 10 metres and under, annually in the UK Sea Fisheries Statistics. Data on the change in number of vessels and engine size from 2010 to 2014 is shown in the table below.
England | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
No. of Vessels | 2569 | 2573 | 2562 | 2602 | 2573 |
Engine power (kW) | 141524 | 141164 | 141855 | 144863 | 144045 |
South West* | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
No. of Vessels | 982 | 994 | 982 | 1004 | 1002 |
Engine power (kW) | 49914 | 49925 | 49262 | 51073 | 51256 |
Devon** | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
No. of Vessels | 438 | 447 | 446 | 473 | 465 |
Engine power (kW) | 27836 | 27835 | 27854 | 29651 | 29289 |
*using the administration ports of Brixham, Newlyn and Plymouth
**using the administration ports of Brixham and Plymouth
Asked by: Geoffrey Cox (Conservative - Torridge and West Devon)
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 West Devon)
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 West Devon)
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 West Devon)
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 West Devon)
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 West Devon)
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 West Devon)
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 West Devon)
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.