50th anniversary of the loss with all hands of the trawler fishing vessel Gaul

That this House notes with solemnity and sadness the 50th anniversary of the loss of the fishing vessel Gaul, with all hands, on the night of 8-9 February 1974 in storm conditions in the Barents Sea, north of Norway; remembers the 36 crew who lost their lives; further notes that this remains the worst peacetime disaster to befall the British commercial fishing industry; offers its sincere condolences to their families, friends, relatives and the fishing community of Hull; deeply regrets the failure of the Government to locate the wreck following the sinking; notes that it took a further 23 years for the wreck to be located; recognises the distress and suffering of all those affected by the tragedy in the intervening years of uncertainty; further recognises the determination of all those who continued to campaign for answers to the tragedy; thanks the Dispatches team led by the late documentary filmmaker Roger Fenton whose work resulted in the discovery of its final resting place; further notes the series of events taking place in Hull between 8 and 11 February to commemorate the anniversary; acknowledges the eternal debt of gratitude owed by the nation to the generations who risked their lives at sea as part of the British fishing fleet; and honours the memory of all those who did not return.