§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What fisheries action plans have been established between the United Kingdom and neighbouring European Union countries to contain the number of cormorants; with what results; and how the United Kingdom action to control the growth in numbers compares with other European Union countries. [HL3542]
19WA
§ Lord WhittyFishery action plans (FAPs) have recently been initiated by the Environment Agency in England and Wales to provide a mechanism for fisheries development at the catchment scale (or wider), with the objective of maximising sustainable development of fisheries and associated ecological, social, economic and recreational benefits. FAPs seek to identify the main issues affecting fisheries, including bird predation, prioritise these and plan appropriate action. Such fishery action plans do not apply in the European Union.
Cormorants are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which fulfils the UK's obligations under the EC Wild Birds Directive 79/409/EEC to conserve all wild birds. Results from earlier Defra-funded research on the impact of cormorants on inland fisheries support the view that this is a problem for specific fisheries rather than a general problem. Where such site-specific problems exist, licences can be granted to allow limited numbers of birds to be killed or taken as an aid to scaring. However, it must be shown that there is no other satisfactory alternative to the issuing of a licence. Nevertheless, the Government are currently looking into further measures to help resolve their conflict with fisheries.
Similar provisions apply in many other European Union countries, although there is some variability in the number of birds that are killed. It is not possible to compare the effects of shooting between member states. The numbers of birds killed or taken under licence in each EU country are reported to the Commission annually.