FISHERY PROTECTION

Early day motion 1090, tabled 3 March 2008 by Bill Wiggin (Conservative). Signed by 33 members.

That this House congratulates the international team of fishery protection officers that caught the Belgian beam trawler Zilvermeeuw using blinders attached to both trawl nets; notes the brave actions of a British Fishery Officer from HMS Tyne with Dutch and French colleagues, who had to jump from their rubber rigid inflatable boat onto the back of the Zilvermeeuw, which ignored boarding requests and tried to speed up and escape when approached; further notes the successful prosecution of the Zilvermeeuw's owner, Zeearend BVBA of Knokke Heist, Belgium, and skipper who were ordered to pay a total of £24,350 in fines; further congratulates the crew of HMS Severn and fishery officers for catching the French stern trawler Cap Frehel fishing more than five nautical miles within a closed cod box; further notes that the master and owner of the Cap Frehel were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £17,110 by Milford Haven magistrates; further notes that the area in the Celtic Sea is closed between 1st February and 31st March to protect spawning cod; recognises the important contribution fisheries enforcement and protection makes to sustainable marine and fisheries management; expresses concern that under the new contract between the Marine and Fisheries Agency and the Royal Navy, beginning in April 2008, the number of Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron patrol days could be as low as 600 per year compared to 1,175 in 2007, representing a cut of almost 50 per cent.; and calls upon the Government to ensure that the reduction in the number of patrol days does not compromise the protection of UK seas and enforcement of fisheries rules.

Signatures by party: Conservative 14, Labour 13, Liberal Democrat 4, DUP 1, Independent 1.