§ Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the threat to Scottish rivers from the salmon disease cold water fibrosis in the light of damage already caused to Norwegian rivers.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythMy information is that although this disease has led to mortalities in farmed salmon in Norway it has not affected wild stocks.
Although there have been two outbreaks in Scotland affecting farmed salmon the disease is very restricted and there is no immediate cause for concern to wild or farmed stocks. The marine laboratory at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland is continuing. however, to monitor the situation.
The Diseases of Fish Act 1937 prohibits the import into Great Britain of live salmon and trout and this safeguards against the more obvious risks of disease being introduced to native stocks.