§ Mrs. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what success he has had in eliminating the organised poaching of salmon and sea trout; what further measures he intends to take; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythA great deal of effort is devoted to the enforcement of salmon and sea fisheries legislation by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, district salmon fishery boards, water bailiffs and the police. Fishery protection vessels, fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and shore-based staff equipped with two-way 191W radio telephones are deployed, with considerable success, to curb the activities of those who fish illegally. In the period from 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1985, the latest year for which figures are available at present, there were 59 and 400 prosecutions respectively for salmon poaching in the sea and in fresh water.
Fishing for salmon by drift nets set from a boat is prohibited in Scottish waters and on 31 March 1986 orders came into effect under sections I and 2 of the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 prohibiting fishing for salmon or sea trout with a gill net in a specified sea area off the coast of Scotland and prohibiting the carriage of monofilament gill nets in British fishing boats in Scottish inshore waters.
The Salmon Act 1986 introduced the new offence of being in possession of salmon in circumstances where the possessor believes, or it would have been reasonable for him to suspect, that the salmon had been illegally taken. The Act also provides for the licensing of salmon dealers in Scotland, as well as in England and Wales. These provisions represent important new anti-poaching measures.