HC Deb 19 July 1973 vol 860 cc178-9W
Mrs. René e Short

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research he is sponsoring and what trials are being conducted under his auspices in connection with fish farming; what fish are involved; and what results are available to date;

(2) what budget is available to his Department for the research and development of fish farming;

(3) what use is being made by his Department of Norwegian and Japanese experience in fish farming;

(4) what use is being made of power station cooling water by his Department for fish farming experiments; and what evaluation of the results of this method he has made;

(5) if he will utilise the development of applied research in biology and engineering in order to stimulate fish farming.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Research into a wide variety of problems arising on fish and shellfish cultivation is carried out at the Ministry's fisheries laboratories. Techniques for the cultivation of plaice are well established and research is now being concentrated on the more valuable species, turbot and sole, but a number of problems remain. Considerable effort is also devoted to achieving the best results in cultivation of molluscs and prawns, and progress has been made in resolving problems for example of feeding, handling and cultivating from eggs. In this work the Ministry keeps itself informed of Norwegian and Japanese experience. The development of applied research is secured by making available to industry results of the programmes through published reports and by informal contact. My right hon. Friend grant-aids the White Fish Authority's work in this sphere. Fish cultivation trials, developing the basic techniques, are conducted by the authority. In the course of some of these, cooling water from a power station is utilised. The cost of fisheries research and development financed by the Ministry is over £2½ million per year of which about 10 per cent. is spent on fish and shellfish cultivation work.

I am arranging for copies of a number of publications describing this work in more detail to be sent to the hon. Member.