§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered a ban on the sale of wild brown trout in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythNo. Purchase, sale or export of brown trout of less than 8 inches in length, or between 1 September and 31 March of brown trout of any size, is already prohibited by section 2 of the Trout (Scotland) Act 1933.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many commercial fishing engines operate in freshwater lakes and rivers in Scotland which have as target species(a) salmon, (b) sea trout, (c) wild brown trout and (d) coarse fish by species; and what quantities of each such species were taken by such engines in (i) 1990, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1980 and (iv) 1970.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythIn Scotland the only methods of fishing for salmon and sea trout allowed in inland waters are net and coble or rod and line. There are approximately682W 70 net and coble fisheries currently operating in Scotland. The total numbers of salmon and sea trout caught by this net and coble are shown in the table:
Salmon and grilse Sea trout 11989 93,266 45,133 1985 82,033 50,547 1980 106,275 97,850 1970 187,480 102,170 1Figures for 1990 will not be available until later this year. Figures for wild brown trout or coarse fresh water fish catches in Scotland are not obtained or held centrally.