§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to identify the Scottish rivers where the escapement of spawning salmon is insufficient to maintain wild stocks; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe scientists at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland freshwater fisheries laboratory, Pitlochry, are engaged in a survey of the distribution and abundance of juvenile salmon on the major rivers throughout Scotland. It is too early to predict the results of that survey.
On those rivers on which they have been involved in population studies over a period of years, there is no evidence of inadequate spawning escapement.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the annual value to the Scottish economy of recreational salmon fisheries in Scottish rivers; and how this compares with the situation in 1975.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe most recent study on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland was carried out by the tourism and recreation research unit of Edinburgh university and was completed in 1984. The researchers suggested that expenditure by salmon anglers in Scotland was in the range £22 million to £46 million per annum. There is no basis for comparison with previous years.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action his Department has taken to prevent illegal fishing for salmon in Scottish waters; and what is his estimate of the result.
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§ Mr. John MacKayA great deal of effort is devoted to the enforcement of salmon and sea fisheries legislation by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland both directly and in co-operation with district salmon fishery boards, water bailiffs and the police. Fishery protection vessels, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and shore-based staff equipped with two-way radio telephones are all deployed, with considerable success, to curb the activities of those who fish illegally in Scottish inshore waters. In the period 1 January 1984 to 31 December 1984, operations against illegal fishing for salmon resulted in 31 cases being dealt with by the courts.
Fishing for salmon by driftnets set from a boat is prohibited in Scottish waters. My right hon. Friend is considering whether to extend that ban to the use of gill nets set other than from a boat, and to ban the carriage of monofilament gill nets, under powers in the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984