Written question asked by Lord Dear (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 March 2008.

Fishing: Salmon

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they will take to deal with salmon netting stations operating under certificates of privilege in rivers which do not meet their conservation limits.

Answer: The Government recognise the potential deleterious effect that unrestricted fisheries operating under certificate of privilege can have on fish stocks and fisheries in rivers not meeting their conservation limits. For that reason, we are proposing to introduce new legislation that will enable the Environment Agency, as fisheries managers, to control the effectiveness of these instruments in order to limit the number of salmon which they can take; where the agency considers it necessary to do so for the protection of fisheries. More detail of these provisions and the proposed wider changes to legislation managing migratory and freshwater fisheries will be published in the draft Marine Bill in spring.

Secondary information