§ 15. Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research into the suitability of various environments for the breeding of anadromous fish is supported by his Department.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithCurrently my Department is commissioning research into factors affecting the upstream migration of salmon and migratory trout, the population dynamics of salmon and migratory trout, methods of enhancing salmon stocks and long-term fluctuations in production, including the effects of predation. From April this year my Department will be supporting work on the effects of flow regimes in rivers on the production and survival of the very young stages of salmon.
§ Mr. DalyellHow are the researchers getting on with the problem of adapting salmon that have been used to spawning in fast-flowing rivers such as the Spey and the Tweed to slow-moving, peaty, acidic waters, such as those in the Falklands? Which is the more economic—salmon ranching in the Falklands or growing grapes in Greenland?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithFortunately, I am not required to pronounce either on that subject or on the application of research to those areas. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer". The United Kingdom research applies to the United Kingdom. If there is any way in which the research can be made more generally available, it will be made freely available to those who want it, and to the hon. Gentleman if he cares to ask me for it.