§ LORD SWANSEAMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their attention has been drawn to Press reports that catches of salmon in Greenland waters in 1973 exceeded the quota agreed by the North Atlantic national fishery authorities by no less than 43 per cent.; and what representations are being made to the Danish Government on this matter.
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, the Danish authorities have informed Her Majesty's Government that the catch of salmon by Greenland fishermen in 1973 exceeded the quota, and Her Majesty's Government have expressed concern over this. The salmon quota will be discussed again at the annual meeting of the International Commission for the North-West Atlantic Fisheries in June of this year, when the United Kingdom will continue to work for the full enforcement of conservation measures based upon international scientific advice.
§ LORD SWANSEAMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer. Can he say whether the Danish Government have given any reason why the catch exceeded the quota in the way that it did? Will Her Majesty's Government do everything they can to impress upon the Danish Government the seriousness of the situation; that it constitutes a serious threat to the future existence of the Atlantic salmon as a species?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no reason to believe that this has been done deliberately, and the noble Lord will forgive me if I say that I ought not to venture any suggestions on this particular matter. It may have been due to late recording or something of that kind. I think it is only fair to say that Denmark has expressed real concern about this matter, and of course it is of concern to the other countries who are involved. The noble Lord will no doubt know that fishing of salmon is due to cease in that area in 1976, although an undertaking has been given that Greenland shall be allowed to continue fishing after that period provided—and this is the position at the moment—that she does not exceed 1,100 metric tons.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, may I ask the Minister two questions? First, is the Minister aware that at the forthcoming meeting in June the Danish concern will take the form of a request by the Danish fishing interests for an even greater allocation than at the present time? Secondly, will Her Majesty's Government ensure that her representatives do their very best to persuade the representatives of other countries to resist this proposal by the Danes, which will further deplete the everdiminishing stocks of salmon?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are aware of that point. Her Majesty's Government propose, provided they get the support of the other countries involved, to insist that the present quota is maintained unless there is scientific evidence to the contrary.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, so far as scientific evidence can record, something like 35 per cent. of salmon caught off Greenland are spawned in British waters? As many of these salmon are artificially hatched by the owners of rivers, will Her Majesty's Government really be firm with the Danish Government?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, there is no doubt that the Government will be firm. I think that probably the figure is even higher than the noble Lord has said. But it depends on what agreement we can get at the International Commission when it meets in June.
§ LORD STRANGEMy Lords, is it true that the smoked salmon sold in the House of Lords is caught by the Japanese in the Danish Straits?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I would not know the answer to that question. Perhaps the noble Lord should direct his question to the chairman of the appropriate committee.
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that greedy fishermen proffered exactly the same arguments when the whale was threatened, and very nearly succeeded in exterminating the whale? Will they therefore be extremely tough in this forthcoming conference? Otherwise, the salmon will go the same way as some species of whale.
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I tried to make it clear to your Lordships that fishing off Greenland will come to an end in 1976, except for the Greenlanders.
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLNo, my Lords; in order to see that there will be plenty in the future.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether there are any penalties for infringement of the quota agreed to be caught, or does the catching rely merely on the good will of the various nations?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, my understanding is that there is no penalty. It has been suggested that if Greenland exceeds her quota this year she should have that amount less next year. But there is nothing in the agreement which allows us to make that suggestion or even to enforce it.