HL Deb 29 June 2000 vol 614 cc80-1WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further measures have been introduced since the establishment of the Environment Agency to curb illegal fishing; and with what success. [HL2919]

Baroness Hayman

No specific legislation has been introduced during this period. However, by-laws introduced in April 1999 to protect spring-running salmon effectively make it illegal to kill a wild salmon anywhere in England and Wales before 1 June each year.

The table below shows the numbers of reports of (a) illegal fishing and (b) handling salmon in suspicious circumstances.

Year No. of reports of illegal fishing No. of reports of handling salmon in suspicious circumstances
1996–97 1,524 74
1997–98 1,310 75
1998–99 1,397 87
1999–2000 1,210 71