§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many organisations have now been consulted regarding the introduction of a salmon tagging scheme to curb salmon poaching; what progress has been made; when he intends to introduce legislation on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorDuring the course of our examination of a possible salmon tagging scheme consultations have taken place with representatives of the water authorities, salmon farmers, processors, wholesalers, importers and retailers. Additionally I have met representatives of angling bodies, including the Salmon and Trout Association. As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 16 May, examination has revealed a number 361W of considerable difficulties and no decisions have yet been made. I shall make an announcement as soon as we have been able to reach a conclusion.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received, and from which organisations, to ban drift netting for salmon off the Northumberland and North Yorkshire coastline; what message he has conveyed to them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorFollowing the issue in 1981 of our consultation paper on the Review of Inland and Coastal Fisheries in England and Wales, in which we discussed the future of the English North East coast salmon fishery, representations were received from the Association of Scottish District Salmon Fishery Boards, the Salmon and Trout Association and the Scottish Salmon Angling Federation calling for the drift net fishery to be banned or phased out. Subsequently I have received further representations from some of these organisations and also from the Atlantic Salmon Trust Ltd., the River Tweed Commissioners and the Esk District Salmon Fishery Board.
In the 1981 consultation paper we said that this fishery should neither be closed nor phased out and the organisations concerned have been told that no evidence has since been produced to cause us to modify that view. However, the management arrangements for the fishery are under review and I will announce our conclusions when the review is completed.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now consider banning the use of drift nets and the use of nylon mono-filament gill nets in salmon fishing within the estuaries of British salmon rivers and the eastern coastline; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe use of drift nets and nylon monofilament gill nets for salmon fishing in English estuaries and coastal waters is strictly regulated by the water authorities. The management arrangements for the North East English drift net fishery are under review, as I have explained in reply to the right hon. Gentleman's question on that subject today. In addition the Ministry's directorate of fisheries research is keeping the effect of monofilament nets under review, but there has been no evidence so far that they cause more damage to fish escaping from them than multi-filament nets and I have no intention at present of introducing a general ban.