Lt.-Col. Colin Mitchellasked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he is satisfied that permitting commercial netting in Northern Ireland in freshwater portions of rivers is in the interests of salmon preservation; if he will give the figures for the commercial catch of salmon netted in Lough Neagh over the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HowellI have been asked to reply.
Commercial netting for salmon in fresh water in Northern Ireland is limited by Statute to two rivers and Lough Neagh. I have no reason to believe that the continued existence of these three exceptions to the general prohibition of salmon netting in fresh water is detrimental to salmon preservation.
410WI regret that accurate figures of commercial salmon catches on Lough Neagh for the last three years are not available.