§ Mr. John Townendasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government have any plans to co-operate with the Norwegian Government to reduce the growing damage done to the fish stocks in the North sea by seals.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 13 February 1987, c. 393]: I am aware of recent media reports of a sudden influx into the Norwegian sector of the North sea of substantial numbers of harp seals, which has given rise to particular difficulties for Norwegian inshore fishermen.
We are co-operating with Norway and other countries in research on the impact of seals on fisheries within the framework of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. In addition, the Salmon Advisory Committee, which has recently been set up, is being asked in the early stages of its work to look at influences on salmon stocks, including predators.