§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food what initiatives his Department is pursuing to protect and enhance stocks of wild salmon and sea trout; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackThe National Rivers Authority is responsible, within the policy and legislative framework determined by my right hon. Friends the Minister, and the Secretary of State for Wales, for maintaining, improving and developing salmon and sea trout fisheries in England and Wales. It carries out a range of activities, including habitat restoration, restocking and enforcement of legislation designed to combat illegal fishing. Much of this work is funded by the Government through grant-in-aid. The authority has recently prepared a draft salmon management strategy which considers how salmon stocks might best be managed in the future. In addition, the Government also fund a significant programme of research on wild salmon and sea trout.