HC Deb 10 June 2002 vol 386 cc955-6W
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Environment Agency has published research into the impact of canoeing on(a) fish and (b) the environment; and if she will make a statement. [58368]

Mr. Morley

The Environment Agency published an R&D report in 2000 on 'The Effects of Canoeing on Fish Stock and Angling'. The research was commissioned to assess the extent to which canoeing affects fish populations and the extent to which canoeing can conflict with angling.

The general conclusion from this study was that canoeing is not harmful to fish populations. The main area of conflict between anglers and canoeists centres around the actual or perceived disturbance of angling. Neither this research, nor any other Agency funded research, have addressed the issue of the impact of canoeing on the wider environment.