§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the weight of fish, and if possible which species of fish, are consumed by seals in the United Kingdom waters each year.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe most recent estimate of the quantities of fish eaten by grey seals in United Kingdom waters is contained in a report by the Natural Environment Research Council entitled "Interactions between Grey Seals and UK Fisheries". This report is the result of a three-year research programme conducted by the council's sea mammal research unit on behalf of my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Copies of the report have 401W been distributed to interested organisations and we now await their comments. I am today placing a copy in the Library of the House.
There have been no recent studies of the food of common seals.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the population of each seal species in United Kingdom waters which would be unacceptable having regard to the effect they would have on the stocks of fish used for human consumption.
§ Mr. John MacKayMy right hon. Friend has recently received a report from the Natural Environment Research Council entitled "Interactions between Grey Seals and UK Fisheries", and will consider whether there is a need to control grey seal populations when he has studied the report and the comments thereon from fishing and conservation interests.
There is no equivalent study in regard to common seals.