§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list those pesticides, including dichlorvos, she has so far identified as major toxic chemicals polluting the North sea from United Kingdom fish farms; and if she will make a statement on their control and their effect on the biodiversity of the North sea.
§ Mr. SoamesAll veterinary medicines and pesticides are subject to strict approval arrangements which take into account their potential effect on the environment. All direct discharges, including from fish farms, containing potentially toxic substances are controlled through a system of consents.
We have no evidence of chemicals used in fish farms affecting the biodiversity of the North sea. In line with ministerial North sea agreements, the United Kingdom is acting to reduce the discharge of the most toxic and polluting substances, including dichlorvos, to the North sea. A full quality status report on the North sea will be published by the Oslo and Paris Commissions later this year for the North sea conference ministerial meeting in 1995.
In addition, the Ministry carries out a programme of monitoring of the aquatic environment for a range of metals and organic compounds in fish, shellfish, seawater and sediments. The results are published annually.