§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number and total weight of(a) salmon and (b) grilse taken by (i) anglers and (ii) commercial nets in (1) drift and (2) estuary nets for each of the last five years and for 1985, 1980 and 1975 or as much of such information as is readily available; and if he will provide the same information for fish classed (x) 1 sea winter, (y) 2 sea winter and (z) 3 sea winter fish. [55567]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe information is set out in the table. Drift netting has been prohibited in Scotland since 1962. Data on sea ages of salmon are classified as either one sea winter (1SW)(grilse) or multi sea winter (MSW)(salmon). The split between grilse and salmon by the fishermen is usually made on the basis of weight and may become more inaccurate as the fishing season advances.
75W
Estimated cost (£) for 1998–99 Monitoring Provide an account of the status of Scottish salmon stocks 236,400 Monitoring Provide an account of Scottish sea trout, brown trout and freshwater fish stocks 150,122 Monitoring Provide an account of the Scottish freshwater environment as a habitat for freshwater fish 380,846 R&D Experimental population dynamics of Atlantic salmon and brown trout 172,314 R&D Population structuring in salmonids 283,154 R&D Characterisation of biodiversity in the Atlantic salmon 33,635
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of jobs sustained through sea trout and salmon fishing in Scotland in each of the years 1992 to 1998(a) directly and (b) indirectly; and if he will make a statement on the basis of these figures.[56304]
§ Mr. MacdonaldInformation on the number of jobs associated with salmon and sea trout angling is not held centrally.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect of inshore coastal fish fanning on native migratory sea trout and salmon populations; and if he will make a statement. [56308]
§ Mr. MacdonaldStocks of Atlantic salmon and sea trout have declined in many areas of the North Atlantic. The reasons for this are believed to be many and varied but it is recognised that sea lice attracted to coastal fish farms could represent an additional burden, particularly for sea trout.