§ Mr. OnslowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate his Department has formed of the value of the catch of salmon from the north-east drift net fishery in the last year for which figures are available and in the corresponding period 10, 20 and 30 years ago;
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time jobs created by the north-east drift net fishery salmon catch in the latest year for which figures are available and in the corresponding period 10, 20 and 30 years ago;
(3) what socio-economic studies his Department has undertaken in anticipation of the publication of the report of the inquiry into the north-east drift net fishery to establish the likely impact of phasing out this fishery.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 30 January 1990]: My Department has information on the numbers of salmon drift net licence holders (and endorsees), and catch statistics which are published regularly.
239WWe do not have data on the values of catches of salmon taken by drift nets in the north-east England fishery—nor information on the jobs dependent upon salmon drift net fishing—for the years in question. We have no plans to mount a socio-economic study in anticipation of the report to Parliament on the north-east coast salmon net fishery. Section 39 of the Salmon Act 1986 requires Ministers to
prepare a report which, in the context of the need to ensure—reviews the nature and extent of all such fishing in those areas and districts.
- (a) that sufficient salmon return to spawn in the rivers wholly or partly situated in the areas and districts specified in subsection (3) below; and
- (b) that fishing for salmon by means of nets is properly managed in those areas and districts,