Oral Answers to Questions Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Flick Drummond
Main Page: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)Department Debates - View all Flick Drummond's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(8 years, 9 months ago)
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Elizabeth Truss
The food crime unit has been established as per our commitment and is operational. I am sure it will be looking into cases such as that one.
Mrs Flick Drummond (Portsmouth South) (Con)
T3. The shellfish industry is worth £500,000 to the local economy in Portsmouth and has been affected by pollution in the past. What progress are the Government making to create blue belts that balance the legitimate interests of the fishing industry with marine conservation?
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice)
My hon. Friend makes a good point. As she knows, we recently designated an additional 23 marine conservation zones, taking the total to 50 around the country. In addition, we have a network of sites of special scientific interest, special areas of conservation and special protected areas. She makes an important point that, in those designations, we have to balance the needs of fishing with the needs of the environment. That is what we intend to do.