§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of the value of each salmon taken by an angler visiting Scotland to the Scottish economy in each of the last 10 years; [81220]
(2) what is his estimate of the value of salmon angling to the economy of Scotland in each of the last 10 years; and of this how much in each year represents spending by visitors from outside Scotland. [81221]
§ Mr. MacdonaldInformation on the amount spent by visiting anglers is not held centrally. However, a survey published in 1991 by Portsmouth Polytechnic's Centre for Marine Resource Economics estimated that the net economic value of rod fisheries in Scotland lay within the range of £198 million to £300 million, with a best estimate of £225 million. The "Scottish Salmon Strategy Task Force" report, published in 1997, uprated these702W figures to produce an estimate for 1995 values of a range from £270 million to £430 million, with a best estimate of £350 million.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of(a) salmon and grilse and (b) sea trout eaten per seal in Scottish waters in each of the last 10 years. [81218]
§ Mr. MacdonaldRecent studies in the rivers Dee and Don suggest that common seals may eat several hundred salmonids per annum. However, extrapolation from these observations to calculate consumption per seal over the last 10 years is difficult as consumption rates and composition are likely to have changed.
Studies on the impact of seals on salmonid stocks are ongoing in the rivers Tay and Conon.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.