§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now received the report from Government scientists on the use of nylon monofilament gill nets in inshore waters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith:The Department's scientists have produced preliminary reports providing detailed information on the use and distribution of gill and similar nets around the coasts of England and Wales, together with a survey of published literature concerning the use of gill nets in other countries. The reports—and summaries of them—have been placed in the Library of the House.
337WThe Government have considered these reports. They do not demonstrate that gill nets cause undue damage to fish or that any regulatory measures are required urgently. We therefore have no grounds, on the basis of the information currently available, for introducing legislative controls on the use of gill nets. However, a further report from our scientist should be available about the end of the year and we shall be reviewing the need for legislative controls in the light of the findings in that report.