To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the Government appointed to each sea fisheries committee in each year since 1997; between which dates each held their position; what the reasons were for each appointment; what (a) interests and (b) organisations and groups each appointee represented; and if he will make a statement. (180982)

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Section 2 of the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 sets out that persons appointed by the Minister to Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) shall be:

“persons acquainted with the needs and opinions of the fishing interests of that district or as being persons having knowledge of, or expertise in, marine environmental matters.”

All appointments to SFCs made by the Secretary of State last for a four year period. Once appointed, these members are required to represent, in a balanced way, all local fishing and marine environmental interests in the SFC district. Appointees are reminded that they should not regard themselves as representing any one particular interest.