§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the number of(a) herons and (b) cormorants there are in Northern Ireland or in the coastal waters of Northern Ireland; and what the figures were five and 10 years ago.
§ Mr. NeedhamNo information on the heron population in Northern Ireland is available for the years in question.
A winter survey of the cormorant carried out at main locations in 1989–90 indicated that the wintering population was at least 2,150 individuals. A full survey in 1985–86 estimated the wintering population at 2,600. Data for 1980–81 are not available.
451WComprehensive figures for the breeding population of cormorant have never been collected. In 1991, however, there were 299 pairs on Sheep Island, Co. Antrim, the main colony, where in 1977 there had been 340.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the number of fish-eating ducks there are in Northern Ireland; and what the numbers were five and 10 years ago, respectively.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe only regularly occurring species of duck in Northern Ireland which is mainly fish eating is the red-breasted merganser.
The wintering population of this species in 1989–90 was estimated at 875 individuals and in 1985–86 at 845 individuals. Data for 1980–81 is not available.
No comprehensive breeding data have ever been assembled.