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 introduce at an EC level measures to reduce sea bass mortality by 80 per cent by 2015.

The Commission has proposed EU bass management measures for 2015, which will be considered at December Fisheries Council. As part of those discussions I will continue to press for an approach which will ensure bass stocks recover and become sustainable.