§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent Irish drift netting boats have been operating off the West Coast of Scotland in search of salmon and whether they have made approaches to the Irish Government on this matter.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sanderson of Bowden)We have been aware from various sources and especially from the airborne surveillance patrols and fishery protection vessels of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland that considerable numbers of boats from the Republic of Ireland were engaging in this illegal salmon fishery. Enforcement efforts yielded a successful prosecution and this will have provided a substantial deterrent effect. The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I had informal discussions during 1988 with our opposite number from the Irish Republic. The enforcement bodies of our respective countries, along with those of Northern Ireland, have been working in close co-operation to stamp out the practice as detrimental to all our interests, and efforts for the coming season will be continued.