§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the estimated decline in Scottish salmon stocks during the past 10 years; and to what main causes he attributes this.
§ Mr. John MacKayInformation on salmon stocks in Scottish rivers is not available. The recorded catches for the years 1973–1982 are shown in the table.
596W
Salmon Grilse Number (Wt-Tonnes) Number (Wt-Tonnes) 1973 237,920 1,157.4 293,090 848.0 1974 188,357 911.6 289,416 796.2 1975 207,978 1,006.4 222,364 613.9 1976 114,582 521.7 188,492 497.1 1977 138,987 638.6 194,264 521.2
Salmon Grilse Number (Wt-Tonnes) Number (Wt-Tonnes) 1978 162,954 780.6 204,470 542.2 1979 132,509 597.4 187,236 478.3 1980 172,588 851.0 121,441 283.0 1981 174,721 843.7 150,738 389.1 1982 128,242 595.5 208,061 496.2
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of salmon that were illegally taken from Scottish 'waters and rivers in 1983, as compared with 1973.
§ Mr. John MacKayIt is not possible to make reliable estimates of the number of salmon taken illegally. The Government remain concerned about the scale of poaching and are considering ways of seeking to reduce it.