To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet reached agreement with the Government of Argentina for the conservation of fish stocks in the South Atlantic.
Yes: a joint statement on the conservation of fisheries in the south Atlantic ocean was agreed with the Government of Argentina on 28 November and announced by both Governments on that day. Copies of the statement have been placed in the Library of the House.The joint statement issued under the sovereignty umbrella provides for a temporary total ban on fishing from 26 December 1990 in an area defined in an annex to the statement. It also provides for co-operation between the two Governments in the conservation of fish stocks. We regard the joint statement as an important conservation measure and a welcome development in Anglo-Argentine co-operation.