§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations have been made; what information has been sought and from whom by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and what further consultations are planned before the fishing review initiated as a result of the Salmon Act 1986 is completed.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)On the matter of representations, I would refer to the answer given earlier today but would add that representations in favour of the fishery have also been made by the following organisations:
- Anglo Scottish Fish Producers Organisation Ltd. Beadnell Parish Council
- Cornish Fish Producers Organisation Ltd.
- Federation of British Ports Wholesale Fish Merchants Associations
- Fisheries Organisation Society Ltd.
- National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
- North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee
- Whitby Coblemen's Association
- Yorks & Anglia Fish Producers Organisation
Ministers in the department have also held meetings with representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and a number of local salmon net fishermen.
Under the terms of Section 39 of the Salmon Act 1986, Ministers are to prepare a report, which, in the context of the need to ensure that sufficient salmon return to spawn in the rivers off the North-East coast of England and east coast of Scotland and that fishing for salmon by means of nets is properly managed, reviews the nature and extent of all such fishing. Work on the review is continuing and information has been made available to the Ministry and DAFS by the National Rivers Authority and district salmon fishery boards. We do not plan to hold consultations on the report before it has been submitted to Parliament as is required by the 1986 Act.
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§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the organisations which have made representations to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food against the interceptory drift netting of salmon off the north-east coast of England.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has received a large number of letters from organisations and individuals about this fishery and the current statutory review following Section 39 of the Salmon Act 1986. Those organisations which have petitioned against drift netting for salmon include:
- Action Group Against Interceptory Netting for Salmon & Sea Trout (AGAINST)—
- Angling Foundation
- Bishop Auckland District Angling Club
- Black Banks Syndicate, Wolsingham
- Boswells, Newton & District Angling Association
- Environment Foundation
- Federation of Clwyd Angling Club
- Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
- Northumbrian Anglers Federation
- Rothbury Parish Council
- Salmon and Trout Association
- Scottish Landowners Federation
- Scottish National Party Parliamentary Group
- Stockton Angling Association
- Wear Valley District Council.
Ministers in the department have held meetings with representatives of the Action Group Against Interceptory Netting for Salmon and Sea Trout, the Atlantic Salmon Trust and the Salmon and Trout Association.