§ Mr. Beithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether salmon are being prevented from entering the River Coquet because the north side fish pass has been closed; whether this is because his Department has not yet connected the electrical fish counter; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe responsibility for the maintenance of salmon in the River Coquet rests with the Northumbrian water authority.
I understand that salmon can ascend the river at Warkworth without difficulty by way of the relatively modern fish pass on the south side. The old pass on the north side, where my Department has been conducting some experiments into fish counting, has been temporarily closed by the authority for rebuilding.