To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many British sea fishermen there were in each year since 1997. (106779)

The following table gives the total number of fishermen in the UK for each year since 1997.

Detailed data on the number of fishermen operating in each year since 1997 are published in “UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2005” which is available on the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) website at:

http://www.mfa.gov.uk/statistics/documents/UKSeaFish05-TAB2-7.xls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total EU subsidy for each national fishing fleet was in each year since 1985. (106746)

The Department does not hold all the information requested. However, some of the information is available within the report “Financial Support OECD Fisheries: Implications for Sustainable Development” which has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many British sea fishing vessels (a) under and (b) over 10 metres in length were in use in each year since 1997. (106778)

On 1 September 2006, there were 5,977 fishing vessels registered and licensed in the United Kingdom (excluding Islands). Of these, 1,458 were over 10 metres in length and 4,519 were 10 metres or under in length. The data for the years 1997 to 2005 are in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) total allowable catches and (b) levels of discards were within British territorial waters for each fish species in 2005-06. (106770)

Total allowable catches (TACs) are set internationally for a wide range of fish species around the British Isles. The TAC areas vary by species. However, the following table gives figures for TACs in 2005 and 2006 for a selection of those stocks for which the level of discards are recorded internationally, together with the UK shares of the TACs.

UK fisheries laboratories send observers to sea to record the quantity of fish discarded and retained by fishing vessels. Systematic data for a representative sample of the UK fleet is only available for some fisheries.

The following tables show estimates for the proportion of catch discarded for cod, haddock and whiting by the UK fleet in the North Sea during 2005. Corresponding figures for 2006 are not yet available as the fishing season has yet to be completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the (a) number, (b) total tonnage and (c) total allowable catch of vessels in each national fishing fleet in the EU in each year since 1985. (106777)

Information on the number, total tonnage and total allowable catch of each national fishing fleet in the EU between 1994 and 2005 can be obtained from chapter 6 of the annual publication, “UK Sea Fisheries Statistics,” available in the Library of the House or online at:

http://www.mfa.gov.uk/statistics/ukseafish.htm.

Information prior to 1994 is not readily available and could only be produced at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of fish stocks of the main North Sea species in each year since 1985. (106747)

Fish stocks in EU waters are assessed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Scientists from the UK’s fisheries laboratories contribute to the undertaking of these assessments which provide estimates of the total weight of mature adult fish, that is, the spawning stock biomass (SSB). This is used as a measure of the overall abundance of a stock.

Estimates are available for cod, haddock, saithe, plaice and sole in the North Sea. The most recent estimates of SSB for these stocks are given in the following table: