§ David BurnsideTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the stocking plan is for salmon in the rivers(a) Bush, (b) Bann and (c) Lagan for the current year; and what the plans were in each of the last five years. [178619]
§ Angela SmithSalmon fry hatched at Bushmills Salmon Station early in 2004 have already been stocked into suitable habitat in the River Bush catchment. Summerling parr will be stocked into under recruited nursery habitat in the autumn. Fry stocking has been a part of both the Department's scientific research programme and angling development programme on the River Bush in each of the last five years. It has been increased in recent years to bolster declining natural egg deposition.
Tributaries of the Lower River Bann including the Clady and the Agivey are routinely stocked with indigenous juvenile salmon by local angling clubs. This has occurred in each of the last 5 years.
Salmon fry hatched at Bushmills Salmon Station have been stocked into suitable habitat on the River Lagan in 2004. The reintroduction of salmon to the River Lagan commenced in 1991 with a programme of fry stocking and this has continued annually since then.
§ David BurnsideTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards the re-establishment of the Lough Erne salmon run; and what plans are in place to deal with the physical barrier of the Ballyshannon generator in order that the Lough Erne salmon run can be re-established. [178620]
§ Angela SmithA cross-border scientific programme was set up in 1995 to address the problem of low salmon runs in the Erne catchment. The programme elucidated some of the reasons behind the absence of a wild breeding salmon population and began a restoration programme that saw increasing numbers of salmon 1109W ascending the River Erne from 1998. A number of conclusions and recommendations were reported in 2001 and an action plan was developed.
While many aspects of the action plan have been implemented, discussions continue with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland on the outstanding recommendations.
§ David BurnsideTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated count was for the salmon run in the rivers(a) Bush, (b) Bann and (c) Lagan in each of the last five years. [178623]
§ Angela SmithTotal counts are available for the River Bush. A counter on the Lower River Bann at Portna provides an indicative count only of adult fish ascending the river, as salmon enter tributaries downstream. The number of salmon ascending the River Lagan is estimated using a trapping/electronic counting facility, and more recently video, deployed at Stranmillis weir.
Counts for each of the last five years are as follows:
Bush1 Bann (Portna) Lagan 2003 723 23,012 100 2002 835 4,502 500 2001 913 4,572 450 2000 950 4,407 800 1999 977 2,371 50 1 Wild fish (excludes adults released as smolts from the hatchery). 2 Count incomplete due to technical problems with electronic counter.
§ David BurnsideTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his assessment is of the existing threats to salmon runs in the rivers(a) Bush, (b) Bann and (c) Lagan; and what steps are being taken by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to counter these threats. [178624]
§ Angela SmithPolicy on salmon and inland fisheries is the responsibility of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Accordingly, the hon. Member's question has been referred to my Department for answer.
The existing threats to salmon stocks on each of the Rivers Bush, Bann and Lagan are similar, at least at the macro scale.
Research at Bushmills salmon station has demonstrated a significant decline in marine survival in recent years whereby a substantially lower percentage of emigrating smolts are returning as adults to home waters. International research into the causes of this worrying phenomenon is being commissioned and will look at factors such as climatic change, predation and pressure on prey species. The Department has been successful in buying-out over 87 per cent. of coastal nets that exploited fish returning to the Bush and Bann rivers and has approved a range of byelaws t made by the Fisheries Conservancy Board that seek to further control both commercial and angling exploitation.
Water quality and habitat degradation are the main causes of poor freshwater production of smolts. Secondary concerns include periodic obstructions to passage and predation by cormorants and seals.
1110WA research project on the River Bush sponsored by Departments has recently reported on factors affecting water quality and flows that impact on aquatic ecology.
It is planned to take the recommendations forward by way of a catchment management action plan. Proposals aimed at restoring productive freshwater habitat for salmon in the river have been prepared as part of this process.