§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to reduce the number of sea birds drowned in monofilament nets; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryA number of regulations and byelaws are concerned with the use of fishing nets. There is little evidence to suggest that these nets are threatening the survival of any species in our waters.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of wild-caught birds which were imported into the United Kingdom in 1987, 1988 and 1989 and indicate, for each year, the estimated proportion which died(a) in transit, (b) during the first 15 days of quarantine and (c) during the last 20 days of quarantine.
§ Mr. MacleanThe totals of captive birds imported into Great Britain, together with totals of mortalities on arrival and during quarantine are set out below. The figures do not distinguish wild-caught from captive-bred but most of the birds are considered to have been wild-caught. Information about the proportion of birds dying during particular periods of quarantine could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.