§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many illegal salmon nets were confiscated in the Berwick and Tweed waters in each of the years 1975 to 1983 inclusive; to what extent illegal salmon drift netting is affecting the River Tweed stocks; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKaySeven drift nets were seized in 1975, three in 1976, five in 1977, seven in 1978, 11 in 1979, 11 in 1980, 27 in 1981, 37 in 1982 and 46 in 1983. There are no reliable estimates of the extent to which illegal drift netting is affecting the river Tweed stocks.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many salmon and grilse have been caught by rod anglers on the River Tweed in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe reported road and line catch for the area of the Tweed Commissioners is as follows:
Salmon Grilse Total 1974 3,734 130 3,864 1975 5,454 106 5,560 1976 4,919 108 5,027 1977 6,415 161 6,576 1978 5,195 162 5,357 1979 5,091 184 5,275 1980 5,894 251 6,145 1981 6,124 217 6,341 1982 5,787 307 6,094 1983* 8,233 318 8,551 * The figures for 1983 are provisional
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek powers to ban the netting of salmon in estuaries during a period of drought.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe question of introducing controls over the use of salmon nets in estuaries when rivers are low has been raised by certain angling interests in the context of the review of salmon legislation. No decision on this proposal has yet been reached.