§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is any evidence of a change in the levels of disease suffered by fish or cetaceans in British coastal waters.
§ Mr. CurryDisease levels in marine fish populations have been found to fluctuate from year to year and in some cases seasonally, but there is no clear evidence of a long-term trend of changing levels of disease in fish. There 243W has been no comprehensive collection of data on the incidence of disease in cetaceans, but I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is considering new research projects on cetaceans and marine mammals, including post-mortem analysis for stranded cetaceans and other marine animals found on our shores.