§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the weight of salmon taken by seals from Orkney last year; and what is the weight of salmon taken by netting in (a) rivers in Caithness and Sutherland, and (b) in all Scottish rivers last year.
§ Mr. MillanOn the basis of an estimated seal population of 14,500 for the Orkney Islands the weight of salmon taken, based on a limited analysis of the diet of seals captured in coastal areas, could be between 2,000 and 3,000 tonnes per annum. In 1976—the latest year for which figures are available—a total of 80 tonnes of salmon and grilse was taken in coastal and river nets in Caithness and Sutherland; the comparable figure for all Scottish rivers was 892 tonnes.