To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 19 June 2007, Official Report, column 1660W, on fisheries: quotas; what his estimate is of the fish stocks in UK waters that are (a) outside safe biological limits, (b) within safe biological limits, (c) have no safe biological limits defined and (d) have had no scientific assessment made; and if he will make a statement. (228069)

In terms of EU fisheries and quotas, 47 finfish stocks are of most interest to the UK. The complete picture for 2008 will not be available until after the final instalment of the annual ICES’ advice is released in November.

The complete picture for 2007 can, however, be summarised as follows:

Of the 47 finfish stocks:

(a) 14 stocks are outside safe biological limits;

(b) 9 stocks are within safe biological limits;

(c) 6 stocks still have no safe biological limits defined; and

(d) 18 stocks have no scientific assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quota swaps have been made in 2008; which cross-year swaps will affect UK quota in future years; and if he will make a statement. (228169)

On 15 October 2008, there have been 820 national quota swaps agreed by UK fisheries administrations between fishermens’ groups within the UK and 66 international quota swaps agreed between the UK and other member states. Fisheries Administrations will consider proposals for cross-year swaps on an individual basis. Most cross-year swaps between 2008 and 2009 will not occur until later this year or early in 2009.