Salmon (Hansard, 19 November 2003)

§ David Burnside
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact on wild salmon stocks of salmon fish farms in Northern Ireland. [135445]

§ Angela Smith
The occurrence of escaped farmed salmon in Northern Ireland's commercial salmon catches is examined annually. The largest occurrence was in 2001, when 9.1 per cent. of the commercial catch was farmed fish. The 10-year average, excluding the year 2001, is 1.4 per cent.
Occurrences of escaped farmed salmon in freshwater are also monitored at the trap on the River Bush, where the 10-year average of farmed salmon as a total of trapped fish is 0.7 per cent.
The only detailed information available on the genetic impact of farmed salmon on wild salmon stocks has been undertaken in two surveys of the Glenarm River in 1990–91 and in 1997. The surveys showed that the genetic status of the wild population was significantly changed indicating that cross breeding with farmed salmon had taken place.
Further scientific studies have commenced on the River Bush catchment on the potential consequences of genetic change in the wild population caused by interbreeding with farmed salmon in terms of long-term productivity. No results are yet available and such studies are likely to be case specific.

§ Mr. Donaldson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the number of salmon spawning in each river in the Foyle system has reached the numbers recommended by P. F. Elson and A. L. W. Tuomi in their report of 1975, the Foyle Fisheries, New Basis for Rational Management. [136068]

§ Mr. Pearson
The target numbers of salmon spawning in each river in the Foyle System recommended by Elson and Tuomi in their 1975 report have been met. A comparison of these numbers together with the number of salmon passing through the relevant fish counters in the years 2000–02 is set out in the following table. 955W

Foyle rivers

Number of salmon passing through fish counter (year)

River System Elson and Tuomi spawning targets 2000 2001 2002

Faughan and tributaries
upstream of fish counter
590 2,551 1,518 4,228

Roe and tributaries upstream
of fish counter
1,222 1,433 3,459 5,459

Mourne and tributaries
upstream of fish counter
4,276 4,690 6,250 12,991

Foyle rivers
Number of salmon passing through fish counter (year)
River System	Elson and Tuomi spawning targets	2000	2001	2002
Faughan and tributaries upstream of fish counter	590	2,551	1,518	4,228
Roe and tributaries upstream of fish counter	1,222	1,433	3,459	5,459
Mourne and tributaries upstream of fish counter	4,276	4,690	6,250	12,991