§ Dr. Godmanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fishing vessels are licensed to fish for salmon by way of drift-nets off the coast of Northumberland and Yorkshire; and if he has plans to change the licensing system or this method of fishing.
§ Mr. MacGregorLicences to fish for salmon are not issued in respect of vessels, but under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, (c51) water authorities license individuals to use a specified type of instrument. In 1984 the Northumbrian Water Authority issued 121 salmon drift net licences and the Yorkshire Water Authority 29 salmon drift net licences. As I said in replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames) on 24 January and 7 February 1985, we are reviewing the management arrangements for the fishery in these areas and will announce our conclusions when we have completed the review.