HL Deb 09 February 1965 vol 263 cc7-9

2.47 p.m.

LORD HUGHES rose to move: that the Salmon and Migratory Trout (Prohibition of Drift-Net Fishing) (Extension) Order, 1964, a copy of which was laid before this House on December 17, 1964, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, the purpose of this Order is very simple. It does nothing more than extend for a period of one year the operation of the Order which at present prohibits fishing for salmon and migratory trout by drift-net in an area of sea off the coast of Scotland. This prohibition was imposed by the previous Government, and I think it is fair to say that they did so because, as they admitted, they did not really know what the effect would be on salmon stocks of the new practice of drift-net fishing off the Scottish coast which had developed in the two or three preceding years.

Some of us may have had our doubts as to whether this complete prohibition was essential, but with the inadequate information available it has been very difficult to say conclusively what the effects of drift-net fishing might be on the salmon stocks in Scotland. It was no doubt because of this that the Government of the day decided, in 1962, to refer the matter to a Committee, under the Chairmanship of Lord Hunter, who were asked to review the whole law relating to Salmon and Trout Fisheries in Scotland.

The Committee were asked to consider first the drift-net issue. They did this, and in July, 1963, submitted an Interim Report, in which they said that they had reached the conclusion that an unregulated drift-net fishery would quickly deplete salmon stocks in some rivers. They also said that they had looked at various suggestions which had been made to them for regulating the fishery, such as the licensing of boats or the introduction of catch quotas, but in the end had to report that none of the possible methods, either singly or together, would be a satisfactory means of control; and that they had not been able to find any system of control which would be workable under the existing law.

In these circumstances it has seemed to us that the only reasonable course is to continue the present prohibition on drift-net fishing for salmon for a period until the Hunter Committee have completed the examination, on which they are now engaged, of the whole law relating to salmon fisheries. When the Committee's Final Report is received, which we expect will be in the early summer, we shall have to look again at this whole question of drift-net fishing for salmon. Meantime, this Order maintains the position for a further year after the present Order expires on February 15. As I have said, there is no other change made by the Order, which continues the present prohibition of drift-net fishing for salmon in exactly the same area off the coast of Scotland as that in which the prohibition at present applies. I hope the House will agree that this Extension Order should be made.

Moved, That the Salmon and Migratory Trout (Prohibition of Drift-Net Fishing) (Extension) Order, 1964, be approved.—(Lord Hughes.)

VISCOUNT MERSEY

My Lords, before the Motion is agreed to, may I ask the noble Lord why this Order applies only to Scotland? Surely rivers in this country, in certain cases, also need this protection? And although it may not be within the powers of our authority to do so, I should have thought it was worth consulting the Government of the Irish Republic to see whether they might be willing to co-operate in some way. There are rivers in that country which are also affected. It is difficult to say, with any given area, whether the salmon will run up an English or an Irish river, but it must be to the benefit of all concerned that as large an area as possible is controlled from drift-net fishing.

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I have no doubt that the Hunter Committee, who have been a long time on this job and have been looking at this matter from all aspects, will have had these aspects, among others, under consideration. In so far as the rest of the United Kingdom is concerned, the position South of the Border is totally different. The method by which salmon are fished for in English rivers is not the same as in Scotland. The ownership of the fishing is not the same as in Scotland. Methods which have proved satisfactory on English rivers are not capable of solving the problem in Scotland owing to the differences in fishing laws. And it is because of these differences that we have had to wait for the final recommendations of the Hunter Committee on the reform of the fishing laws as a whole. I would point out that they say in their Interim Report that they have not been able to recommend a satisfactory solution within the existing law.

THE DUKE OF ATHOLL

My Lords, do I understand that the Government hope to introduce by this time next year legislation based on the Hunter Committee recommendations?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, there is no prohibition on hope.

On Question, Motion agreed to.