HC Deb 06 November 1980 vol 991 cc660-2W
Mr. Dunlop

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the Foyle Fisheries Commission does not engage in a major re-stocking programme.

Mr. Giles Shaw

This is a matter for the Foyle Fisheries Commission. However, I understand that the commission has considered implementing a major restocking programme as one of the means of improving the stocks of salmon in the Foyle system. It has, however, come to the conclusion that the most serious problem affecting the level of salmon stocks is the extent of illegal fishing and that, until current efforts to bring this under control prove successful, any benefits likely to be derived from a restocking programme would be minimal.

Mr. Dunlop

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that poaching by boats and fishermen from the Republic of Ireland is reduced from the present massive scale in the Foyle Fisheries Commission area.

Mr. Giles Shaw

While poaching remains fairly widespread in the Foyle area, I would not accept that it is massive. The Foyle Fisheries Commission is, with the support of the security forces on both sides of the border, concentrating its resources on curbing illegal fishing.

The Government and the commission are in regular contact with the Irish Government and I am hoping soon to meet Mr. Power, the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry in the Irish Republic, to discuss this and other mutual problems. There has in fact been a much higher degree of success against poachers this year than in recent years.

Mr. Dunlop

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many salmon ascended the River Foyle in 1980 as indicated by the fish counter at Sion Mills.

Mr. Giles Shaw

This is a matter for the Foyle Fisheries Commission but I understand that up to 25 October 1980 a total of 2,759 salmon have been recorded passing over the fish counter at Sion Mills.

Mr. Dunlop

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the Foyle Fisheries Commission does not allow the full number of salmon required to ensure survival to ascend the river before any netting is undertaken.

Mr. Giles Shaw

This is a matter for the Foyle Fisheries Commission but I understand that the commission tries to strike a balance between the conflicting interests of anglers and the commercial netsmen and keeps the arrangements under continuous review.

The Foyle runs of salmon comprise a number of different genetic components which enter the river system at slightly different times. In order to ensure that all the components are represented in the escapement to fresh waters, it is essential that escapement takes place throughout the season.

To allow the full escapement to fresh water before any netting is allowed would result in large numbers of salmon being present in the rivers for long periods before spawning. This would lay the Foyle Fisheries Commission open to charges of discrimination in favour of the anglers.