§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers he has to limit the over-fishing of rivers; what discussions he has had with fishing clubs and river authorities about over-fishing of elvers and salmon; and if he will make a statement.[81261]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 19 April 1999]The Environment Agency, which is responsible for the management of inland fisheries in England and Wales, has powers to make byelaws to regulate fishing for salmon and eels including elvers. It can also make net 519W limitation orders to limit numbers of net licences in salmon net fisheries. Both byelaws and net limitation orders must be confirmed by Ministers.
Following advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) that extreme caution should be exercised in the management of multi-sea-winter salmon and that the level of exploitation should be significantly reduced in 1999, the Environment Agency proposed the introduction of byelaws to reduce exploitation of spring salmon by both nets and rods in England and Wales. There was extensive consultation on these proposals including advertising in local and national press. The byelaws were confirmed, with modifications, on 14 April.
The Environment Agency and the Ministry have recently commissioned research into the state of eel and elver stocks and levels of exploitation. In addition, the independent group established by Ministers to review all aspects of salmon and freshwater fisheries legislation is considering whether the additional powers are needed to regulate fishing for salmon and eels. The group is expected to report to Ministers in the autumn.