HC Deb 11 March 2004 vol 418 cc1660-1W
Mr. Donaldson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to control cormorants and their predation on fish-stock. [160595]

Angela Smith

In Northern Ireland all wild birds are protected under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Cormorants are also protected under the EC Birds Directive (1979). If there is a specific local problem with cormorants seriously damaging fish stocks, my Department will consider applications for a licence to control the birds at the point of damage.

Any such a licence will require the licensee to report on activities authorised by it to the Department.

Mr. Donaldson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licences to cull cormorants have been issued in each of the last 10 years; and how many cormorants haw been culled in each of the last 10 years. [160596]

Angela Smith

The figures requested are set out as follows. The licences are issued for the purpose of protecting fisheries, and the number culled is based on reports received from the licensees as a condition of their licences.

Number of licences

issued

 Number of cormorants

reported culled
1995 19 82
1996 20 107
1997 21 87
1998 21 99
1999 23 76
2000 16 77
2001 20 70
2002 31 93
2003 13 56
20041 2 10
1Up to 1 March 2004

Mr. Donaldson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the number of cormorants in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [160597]

Angela Smith

The following figures are winter peak counts for cormorants in Northern Ireland. The total is made up from both breeding birds and winter visitors.

Number
1994–95 1,475
1995–96 2,058
1996–97 1,785
1997–98 2,194
1998–99 3,229
1999–2000 2,761
2000–01 2,477

The data have not yet been validated for 2001 onwards.

Mr. Donaldson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate(a) the number and (b) the percentage of salmon smolts returning seawards on the River Bush that were taken by cormorants in each of the last 10 years. [160598]

Angela Smith

No estimates of the levels of salmon smolt predation by cormorants have been made on the River Bush in the last 10 years. Previous studies carried out during the 1980s indicated that predation levels could be in excess of 50 per cent. of the wild smolt runs at that time.