§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement about the future of cod farming; [138809]
(2) how many cod farms have been proposed to be built in the UK; [138810]
(3) if she will make a statement on the health aspects of eating farmed cod; [138811]
(4) if she will make a statement about the effects of cod farming on natural fish stocks. [138812]
§ Mr. BradshawThe Government's policy on aquaculture is to encourage the development of viable, competitive and sustainable enterprises (including cod farming) provided that this can be done within a framework which safeguards public health and also protects the health and welfare of farmed and wild stocks.
At present there are six farming enterprises on growing cod on seven sites in Scotland. In general, the English coastline is unsuitable for marine cages, and the alternative (enclosed water re-circulation systems) is capital-intensive.
While cod-farming on this relatively modest scale may well meet a niche market demand, and there is potentially a vast market for farmed cod, it is not clear that significant expansion in cod is economically viable, given the cost of inputs and the price obtainable for final output.
The Food Standards Agency advises that there are health benefits to consumers in eating at least two portions of fish a week as part of a healthy diet, at least one of which should be oily. We have no reason to believe that farmed cod should not contribute to a healthy diet as does cod from the wild.