This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Management of the under ten metre sole fishery in 1998
23/12/1997
Fisheries Ministers have today announced that with effect from 00.01 hours on January 14, 1998 until 2400 hours on April 21, 1998 fishing for sole in the North Sea (ICES areas II and IV) by all British fishing vessels of 10 metres overall length or under, and by British fishing vessels exceeding 10 metres overall length when used to convey persons fishing for pleasure (the under 10 metre group), will be prohibited.
The decision to close the under 10 metre group's North Sea sole fishery has been taken after consultation with the fishing industry. The aim of the closure is to ensure a sufficient allocation of quota remains available to this group for the important summer fishery.
A number of other fisheries are also being closed to the under 10 metre group for the whole of 1998. These are technical closures of fisheries which this group does not, historically, fish. The under 10 metre group will not therefore be affected by these latter closures.
Once a closure comes into force it is an offence to retain on board these vessels any fish of the affected stocks. Any quantities of the stocks so caught must be returned to the sea forthwith.
BACKGROUND
1. The closures outlined above are contained in The Sole etc (Specified Sea Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1997 which comes into effect on 14 January 1998. Apart from North Sea sole, they cover Area VII hjk plaice and sole, Area Vb, VI, XII and XIV sole and Norway others.