North-East Drift Net Fishery

HC Deb 17 June 1985 vol 81 cc1-2W

Mr. Onslow

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has led him to conclude that the catch from the north-east drift net fishery does not represent a threat to Scottish salmon stocks.

Mr. MacGregor

My fisheries scientists, in a report published in 1982, estimated that the effect of the north east drift net fishery on the numbers of salmon caught on Scottish east coast rivers from the Tweed to the Ugie was approximately 6.4 per cent., while the effect on total salmon stocks in those rivers would have been less. Continuing work by the scientists has provided no evidence to suggest that the north east fishery represents a threat to Scottish salmon stocks.