Fishing Vessels

Bill Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many 10-metre and under fishing vessels were registered in the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Shaw
On 1 November 2007, there were 4,979 10-metre or under fishing vessels registered in the United Kingdom (excluding islands). The data for the years 1997 to 2006 (as at 31 December of each year) are in the following table.

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|    |Number 10 metre and under|
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|1997|5,474                    |
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|1998|5,487                    |
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|1999|5,409                    |
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|2000|5,273                    |
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|2001|5,227                    |
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|2002|5,287                    |
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|2003|5,113                    |
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|2004|5,092                    |
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|2005|4,834                    |
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|2006|4,896                    |
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