§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will break down by areas the figure of £1 million per annum which his Department is spending on fish farming research.
§ Mr. BishopIn 1975–76 fish farming research and development carried out in England and Wales by the Fisheries Laboratories of my Department cost some £½ million. Of this sum, about one-third was spent on shellfish cultivation research; a comparable amount on marine flat fish and about £150,000 of fish disease work which is mainly of interest to fish farmers. Also, the Government commissioned work with the Natural Environment Research Council on the biology and nutrition of cultivated fish at a cost approaching £100,000. In addition a grant of 50 per cent. was given from my votes towards the White Fish Authority's expenditure of some £250,000 on fish and shellfish farming. The authority's work is undertaken in Scotland.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to improve the training facilities for new entrants into fish farming.
§ Mr. BishopThis question is one which has been examined with fish farming interests, and the Ministry has been in touch with the appropriate bodies responsible for training to establish the necessary contacts. One marine fish 85W farming training in husbandry and management is given by the White Fish Authority as required.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes any changes in legislation affecting fish farming, particularly in the field of rates and rating.
§ Mr. BishopDiscussions have been held with fish farming interests about difficulties encountered in the existing legislative framework. These are to be resumed in the near future. Problems arising on rating of fish farms will no doubt be further considered, although if action were proposed this would have to be undertaken in full consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent during the last 10 years upon research and development in fish farming, giving these figures upon an annual basis.
§ Mr. BishopThe total cost of research and development undertaken on behalf of the Ministry on fish farming in each of the last four years was as follows:
£ 1972–73 … … … 388,000 1973–74 … … … 532,000 1974–75 … … … 645,000 1975–76 … … … 812,000 It is not possible to provide comparable figures on a project costings basis for earlier years, but it is estimated that these would reflect the trend shown in the figures quoted.
§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual production of edible farmed fish in Great Britain and the EEC, respectively; and what are the prospects for increasing United Kingdom production.
§ Mr. BishopThe annual production of farmed fish is estimated to be about 2,000 tonnes of rainbow trout and some 200 tonnes of salmon. A substantial proportion of this tonnage is produced for restocking of waters for angling. The total production of the other EEC countries is estimated to be 58,000 tonnes per annum. There is every prospect that production of farmed fish will continue to86W increase. However, there remain major development problems to be overcome in the production of marine fish.