§ 30. Sir Hector Monroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the incidence of salmon drift netting off the English coast; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JoplingSalmon drift netting is and has for a long time been permitted in certain areas of English coastal waters, principally those off the north-east coast. The regulation of these fisheries is the responsibility of the relevant water authorities and the number of licensed nets permitted in each area in limited by orders made by these authorities. In 1984 the numbers of salmon drift net licences issued by each of the English water authorities concerned were as follows:
Northumbrian Water Authority —121 (for coastal waters) Yorkshire Water Authority —29 (for coastal waters) North West Water Authority —4 (for coastal waters off Cumbria) 6 (for the Ribble estuary) 10 (for the Lune estuary) South West Water Authority —7 (for the Camel estuary).