§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to his Department from the water authorities and other sources about proposals to restrict the sales of fish taken illegally from rivers and lakes through the requirement to place a tag on each fish legitimately caught; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorI have sought the initial views of the trade and other interested parties on the proposals set out in the Report "Salmon conservation—a new approach." My Department has received written responses from the following organisations:
- Anglers Co-operative Association (Scotland)
- Anglo-Scottish Fish Producers' Organisation Limited
- Association of Scottish District Salmon Fishery Boards
- Association of Sea Fisheries Committees of England and Wales
- The Atlantic Salmon Trusts
- Bishop Auckland and District Angling Club
- British Hotels, Restaurants and Caterers Association
- British Retailers Association
- Carmarthenshire Fishermen's Federation
- Catering Industries Liaison Council
- Consumers' Association
- Country Landowners Association
- Farmers Union of Wales
- The Federation of British Port Wholesale Fish Merchants Association
- Federation of Highland Angling Clubs and Associations
- Fisheries Organisation Society
- Foyle Fisheries Commission
- Highland and Islands Development Board
- National Consumer Council
- The National Farmers Union
- National Farmers Union of Scotland
- National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
- The Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee
- North West Association of Sea Angling Clubs
- The Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland
- Salmon and Trout Association
- The Scottish Landowners Federation
- Scottish Salmon Growers Association
- Severn Estuary (Nets and Fixed Engines) Fishermen's Association
- South and West Cumberland Fisheries Association
- South West Water Angling Association
- Stoffel Seals Limited
- Welsh Anglers Council
- Welsh Salmon and Trout Angling Association
In addition, one individual has sent in written comments and my officials have met representatives of the water authorities on several occasions to discuss the proposals.
In general, the comments received have favoured the establishment of some form of salmon tagging scheme, although a number of the responses recognised the practical problems that would need to be overcome.