§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has conducted to establish the presence of viruses in sewage sludge dumped in the North sea; and if he will make a statement on the implications of the results of the research for the fishing industry.
§ Mr. CurryUnder the conditions of licensed dumping at sea the concentrations of viruses offshore at sewage sludge disposal sites will generally be much lower than in inshore areas near sewage outfalls. The Ministry is therefore concentrating its research on viruses on shellfish in inshore waters receiving sewage discharges. The Department of the Environment is funding research by the water research centre to assess the risk of contracting illnesses from sea bathing.
There have been complaints from some fishermen of illness as a result of fishing at disposal sites. The Ministry has taken these complaints seriously and in spring 1989 asked the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations to arrange for evidence to be provided to the employment medical advisory service. Over the last year four cases have been referred to EMAS, including one medical history which is being evaluated.
The Ministry's studies of disposal sites have shown no clear relationship between the prevalence of disease in fish stocks and the presence of sewage sludge in these areas.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the extent and nature of his Department's monitoring of sewage sludge disposal grounds.
§ Mr. CurryI refer the hon. Member to the first report of the marine pollution management group's co-ordinating group on monitoring of sewage sludge disposal sites. This was issued as aquatic environment monitoring report No. 20 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's directorate of fisheries research.
A copy is in the Library of the House.