Fish Farms (Hansard, 14 December 1984)

§ Mr. Soames
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of ecological damage to rivers caused by discharges from fish farms.

§ Mr. MacGregor
I am aware of a report by the Wessex water authority which suggests that fish farm discharges are responsible for changes in the population of invertebrate animals in rivers for a relatively short distance downstream of fish farms. I am not, however, aware of any evidence that these changes have caused significant ecological damage to the rivers concerned, nor of any evidence of such damage being caused by fish farms elsewhere.

§ Mr. Soames
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the existing pollution controls for fish farms.

§ Mr. MacGregor
I am satisfied that water authorities have sufficient statutory powers to control fish farm discharges.

§ Mr. Soames
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the grants available to fish farmers.
625W

§ Mr. MacGregor
Fish farmers may be eligible for grants under the following schemes, of which the first two are specifically designed to assist fish farmers:

Scheme Rate of Grant

Council Regulation (EEC) 2908/83: Construction, equipment or modernisation of fish farming installations 25 per cent.

Fish Farming (Financial Assistance) Scheme 1984 Up to 5 per cent.^*

Council Regulation (EEC) 355/77: Processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products 25 per cent.

UK Agricultural Products Processing and Marketing (Improvement Grant) Regulations 1977 and 1983 Up to 8 percent.†

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Scheme 5 per cent. Standard Area

10 per cent. Less Favoured Area

Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation Scheme Up to 33⅓ per cent, formation costs

Up to 75 per cent, surveys

Industrial Development Act 1982 Negotiable according to circumstances

^* This scheme provides the necessary back-up grant for projects approved under Council Regulation (EEC) 2908/83.

† This scheme provides the necessary back-up grant for projects approved under Council Regulation (EEC) 355/77.

Scheme	Rate of Grant
Council Regulation (EEC) 2908/83: Construction, equipment or modernisation of fish farming installations	25 per cent.
Fish Farming (Financial Assistance) Scheme 1984	Up to 5 per cent.^*
Council Regulation (EEC) 355/77: Processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products	25 per cent.
UK Agricultural Products Processing and Marketing (Improvement Grant) Regulations 1977 and 1983	Up to 8 percent.†
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Scheme	5 per cent. Standard Area
	10 per cent. Less Favoured Area
Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation Scheme	Up to 33⅓ per cent, formation costs
	Up to 75 per cent, surveys
Industrial Development Act 1982	Negotiable according to circumstances
^* This scheme provides the necessary back-up grant for projects approved under Council Regulation (EEC) 2908/83.
† This scheme provides the necessary back-up grant for projects approved under Council Regulation (EEC) 355/77.