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 provide financial assistance to the North Devon fishing community affected by the recent Appledore fishery closure; and if she will take steps to end the ray and skate quota in that area.

The Government has received strong representations from the Hon Member for Torridge and West Devon and asked the MMO to redouble its efforts to try to identify additional skates and rays quota through international swaps. While it has not proved possible to identify surplus quota, the fishery will re-open on 1 January. The Government will be resisting proposals for a cut in skate and ray quota in the Bristol channel at the December Fisheries Council to ensure that the Appledore Fishery maintains its fishing opportunities in 2015.