§ The Earl of Mar and Kellieasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the classification of the River Forth as a Special Protection Area will have any effect on salmon fishing and salmon netting rights on the River Forth and its tributaries. [HL793]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)The Firth of Forth has been identified by the Government as a potential Special Protection Area under the EC Wild Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), but has not yet been classified as such. The Government are obliged to take appropriate steps to avoid, in a Special Protection Area, significant disturbance of the species for which the area has been designated. Subject to that test, salmon fishing and netting is possible within a Special Protection Area.