§ 70. Mr. FrenchTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what policies his Department is pursuing in order to improve the prospects for the United Kingdom salmon fishing industry.
§ Mr. CurryThe Government are pursuing a wide range of policies for the conservation and management of salmon stocks which are beneficial to the United Kingdom salmon fishing industry, whether recreational or commercial. In England and Wales, the National Rivers Authority, established in September 1989, has the duty of maintaining, improving and developing salmon fisheries. In Scotland, district salmon fishery boards have similar powers and duties within their district. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the Foyle Fisheries Commission are responsible for the conservation and protection of salmon.
There are substantial programmes of research and development on salmon which contribute to these aims. Finally, the United Kingdom—through the Commission of the European Communities which is a contracting party—plays an active role in the work of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation.