§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will conduct research with the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation into the dangers of Scottish-farmed salmon released from fish farms interbreeding with wild salmon and creating genetic harm and infections.
§ Lord Sanderson of BowdenThe scientific input to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) is provided by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the European Communities (EC) is the contracting party representing member states. UK fisheries depart- 957WA ments, principally DAFS and MAFF, make a leading contribution to the work of ICES and provide support as appropriate to the EC delegation at the annual meetings of NASCO.
A scientific seminar on the genetic impact of aquaculture on wild salmon stocks was held jointly by NASCO and ICES in Dublin on 23rd May. This seminar was chaired by a DAFS scientist and scientists from DAFS and MAFF contributed papers and to the discussions. At its meeting in Edinburgh on 13th-16th June the NASCO Council agreed to ask the contracting parties to encourage further research on genetic differences between wild and farmed fish and the behaviour, migration and possible breeding patterns of released or escaped farmed fish.
DAFS and MAFF are already studying various aspects of the genetic relationships between salmon populations, including biochemical genetic analysis, the physological basis of variations in life history patterns and field studies of the biology of salmon populations. The research programme is designed to identify any problems which may arise through the genetic interaction of wild fish with escapes or releases from culture, and to suggest management remedies if this proves necessary.
The work in Scotland is being carried out with the co-operation of district salmon fishery boards and fish farmers in the areas of study and with direct financial support for some aspects of the work from the Atlantic Salmon Trust and the Scottish Salmon Growers Association. There are continuing exchanges of literature and frequent contacts with scientists engaged in similar work in Canada and Norway.
Reports of mortalities in either farmed or wild fish are investigated and there is continuing government funded research on various aspects of fish diseases in salmonids. There is no evidence that disease problems in fish farms have caused corresponding mortalities in wild fish in Great Britain.
Further discussions on the scientific research and possible development of management guidelines are expected to take place in both ICES and NASCO in the coming year. The UK fisheries departments will continue to contribute actively to all there discussions.