HL Deb 06 March 1989 vol 504 cc1349-50WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley asked Her Majesty's Government

What is their estimate of the numbers of Scottish bound salmon which are now being taken by the North East of England drift netters and whether they are now giving fresh consideration to stopping drift netting operations off the north-east coast of England.

Baroness Trumpington

Act 1986 requires the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland to prepare and submit to Parliament a report reviewing salmon netting off the coasts of north-east England and eastern Scotland. That report must be submitted as soon as practicable after November 1989. Work on the rview is currently in hand and will cover such matters as salmon catches taken by drift netters and drift netting operations. It would not be appropriate to pre-empt that review.

Lord Mason of Barnsley asked Her Majesty's Government

What is the position of the fishing member states of the EC regarding the use of drift netting fishing methods, and whether representations have been made from the Commission about such methods still in use in Northern Ireland and England.

Baroness Trumpington

information on other EC member states' use of drift netting methods. There are no Community measures regulating the use of drift nets. No representations have been received from the Commission on drift netting in Northern Ireland or England