HL Deb 16 March 2004 vol 659 cc41-2WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Environment Agency has produced any reports of damage being inflicted on fisheries and the riverside environment by increasing numbers of cormorants. [HL1641]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)

We are aware that the numbers of cormorants breeding in Britain has risen over the past 25 years, particularly inland, albeit from a very low base. The number of cormorants wintering inland within Great Britain shows recent signs of stabilisation, following increases during the 1980s.

Defra (then DETR and MAFF) carried out a three-year programme of research to ascertain the impact of fish-eating birds on fisheries. The research covered the population and movement of cormorants, their feeding ecology, case studies of the impact of cormorants on fisheries and management methods. The final results were disseminated to the angling and conservation community through annual seminar in 1999. Copies of this research is in the House Libraries.

Defra's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science is currently researching the potential use offish refuges to reduce damage to inland fisheries by cormorants. The results should be known in September 2005.

In addition to the research reports Defra has produced a report on the number of licence applications under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 received and dealt with by Defra. This report can be viewed at http://defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/Reports.htm