§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many rainbow trout fattening ponds there are in Northern Ireland; if they require a culture licence; what chemicals they use; and if they may discharge chemicals without consent into a watercourse. [10665]
§ Mr. AncramI have been asked to reply.
There are 104 ponds at which small-scale production of not more than 500 rainbow trout per year is authorised. All sites where trout are artificially fed require a fish culture licence under section 1 I of the Fisheries Act (NI) 1966. Chemical treatment is not a feature of fish husbandry at these sites. Chemicals may not be discharged into a watercourse without consent.