§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the Yorkshire water authority and the Northumbrian water authority on the question of good working relations between the licensed salmon net fishermen and the rod anglers in the light of salmon poaching activities off the north-east coast and the salmon rivers in their areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe matters referred to by the right hon. Member are primarily for the authorities concerned to deal with. My officials are in regular contact with these authorities and neither has indicated that there are problems of this kind that they wish to discuss with us.
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§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many salmon drift net fishing licences have been issued under section 26 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 in the past five years, including the last issue on 1 January 1984, to Scarborough, Filey, Whitby and Flamborough fishermen; and how many netsmen are involved in these salmon fishing operations;
(2) what is the policy of his Department and the Yorkshire water authority on the issue and control of salmon netting licences;
(3) if he will list the salmon catches from licensed salmon net fishermen for each of the ports of Scarborough, Filey, Whitby and Flamborough in 1950, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975 and each of the years between 1975 and 1983 inclusive;
(4) what has been the annual catch of salmon by rod anglers on the River Esk in each of the past five years;
(5) what inspections take place to ascertain if more than one net is being used or overlength nets are being used in contravention of his regulations under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
§ Mr. MacGregorResponsibility for the regulation and management of the salmon and freshwater fisheries in these areas rests with the Yorkshire water authority. I shall therefore write to the right hon. Member when I have obtained the information he has requested.
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many salmon were taken by drift netting in the north-east coast fishery in 1983.
§ Mr. MacGregorResponsibility for the regulation and management of the salmon and freshwater fisheries in this area rests with the Northumbrian and Yorkshire water authorities. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend when I have obtained the information he has requested.
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to take powers to ban the netting of salmon in estuaries during a period of drought.
§ Mr. MacGregorNo. I have no evidence that such powers are essential.
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will establish quotas for the taking of salmon by drift netting off the north-east coast.
§ Mr. MacGregorNo. Drift netting for salmon off the north-east coast is strictly regulated by the Northumbrian and Yorkshire water authorities.
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the taking of grilse in nets.
§ Mr. MacGregorNo. It would not be practicable to distinguish between grilse and salmon for this purpose.