§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department has issued on protecting fish farm stock from predatory wildlife.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythFish farmers are recommended to follow the codes of practice which have been issued by the Scottish Salmon Growers Association (following agreement with the Nature Conservancy Council and other conservation groups) and the Shetland Salmon Farmers Association. These codes recommend the installation of non-lethal anti-predation measures, such as netting and acoustic devices at fish farms to deter seals and predatory birds, and advise that shooting should be used only as a last resort. The Government welcome these voluntary initiatives by the industry and conservation bodies.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring his Department is presently carrying out to determine the numbers of birds and seals that are shot or drowned in anti-predator netting at marine fish farms in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe number of birds or seals shot under licence at marine fish farms are reported to the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department as a condition of the licence. There is no requirement to report birds or seals which may have been killed in other circumstances. A voluntary survey of the number of seals killed at nets and marine fish farms was recently carried out by the Department and the Seal Mammal Research Unit of the Natural Environmental Research Council (the statutory advisor to the Government on seals) in co-operation with the industry. The returns are being analysed at present.