HL Deb 14 February 1985 vol 460 cc382-3WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they adopt different policies in determining whether to issue a licence to allow cormorants to be killed to prevent serious damage to fisheries in cases where the alleged damage is to waters fished for recreational purposes as opposed to waters used to produce fish solely for human consumption such as trout farms; and if not, why not.

Lord Belstead

Each application for a licence to kill cormorants under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is considered on its merits, in accordance with guidelines agreed with the Nature Conservancy Council. Licences are normally issued only where there is convincing evidence of actual or potential serious economic loss.