HL Deb 28 April 1987 vol 486 cc1358-60

3.4 p.m.

Viscount Massereene and Ferrard

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to prevent adverse effects on the population of sea birds and sea trout caused by the overharvesting of sand eels along the north and west coasts of Scotland.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Glenarthur)

My Lords, there is no evidence that the sand eel stocks to the north and west of Scotland are being overfished or that exploitation of the stocks is having an adverse effect on the natural predators of sand eels.

Viscount Massereene and Ferrard

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Is he aware that the sand eel is the staple food of the sea trout while he is in salt water? When the sea trout comes into fresh water in his migrations, which is usually three times within his lifetime, he is the poor man's salmon. The sea trout is a first cousin of the salmon but he is stronger pound for pound. Would not my noble friend agree that if there is overharvesting of the sand eel, as I believe there is, the sea trout will be in decline? If that decline continued, the tourist trade with regard to fishing would suffer badly since the sea trout is the pride of the freshwater angler. Is the Minister aware that there are many hundreds of fishing hotels which will suffer in that case?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I certainly agree with my noble friend that we must do all that we can to preserve the stocks of sea trout. However, it is unlikely that the availability of marine food supplies such as sand eels is a major limiting factor in what is known as the recruitment of sea trout in this way, although there is some evidence that a shortage of sand eels could affect the rate of growth in adult sea trout. Perhaps I may explain to my noble friend that sea trout eat other things and are known as opportunistic feeders.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, is the Minister aware that so far as I can discover DAFS has not done any research on the sand eel? There is a chance that we may do irreversible damage unless we can find out what its place is in the food chain. Does the Minister not feel that such research should be undertaken?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I assure the noble Baroness that much research has been done and is now going on. We are continuing to monitor the sand eel population and the fisheries. Our scientists are further collaborating with sea bird research workers on factors regulating sea bird populations, which is the other part of my noble friend's Question.

Lord Kimball

My Lords, will my noble friend bear in mind that the major predator upon sand eels is the grey seal? That is a factor which should be taken into account when we consider the management of the exploding grey seal population around our coasts.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I am sure that my noble friend is correct and I am sure that the scientists have taken that factor into account.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, is the Minister also aware that sand eels are harvested, taken to Denmark and Norway, turned into pig food and sold back to this country at great cost? Does he not think that while research is going on some research into making better use of our resources should be carried out?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I think that that is another question.