asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in light of the decision by the Government of the Republic of Ireland to buy out, on a compulsory basis, all licences to take salmon and sea trout in drift nets off its coast, they will take steps to accelerate the closure of mixed-stock net fisheries for salmon and sea trout in England. [HL3295]
A policy has been in place since 1993 to phase out salmon fisheries in England and Wales that predominantly exploit mixed salmon stocks. In 2003, the Environment Agency confirmed that this policy also extends to sea trout.
Reduction in fishing has generally been by natural wastage as fishermen have retired, except where more urgent action has been required to conserve stocks or where arrangements could be made to compensate fishermen who were prepared to retire early.
We currently have no plans to modify this policy.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which mixed-stock net fisheries in England for salmon and sea trout are expected to operate in 2007; which river stocks these fisheries predominantly exploit; and, in the case of salmon, which of these river stocks (a) are currently failing to meet their conservation limits; and (b) are expected to fail their conservation limits in 2010. [HL3296]
The following fisheries are described under the heading, “Stocks exploited by Mixed Stock Fisheries in England and Wales” in the EC report, Review of Mixed Stock Fisheries for Atlantic Salmon in European Community Waters Excluding the Baltic Sea1 , and will be operating in 2007:
North-east drift net and T&J net fishery—exploit Aln, Coquet, Tyne, Wear, Tees, Yorkshire Esk and eastern Scottish river stocks.
Anglian coastal (mainly drift) net fishery—exploits mostly sea trout; only 15 salmon declared for 2006. Stocks derive from rivers in the north-east of England (as listed for the north-east fishery above) and the River Tweed in Scotland.
The Severn estuary fishery (seine nets, lave nets and putchers)—exploits stocks from the Wye, Usk, Severn, Taff, Ely, Rhymney, Ebbw and Parrett.
The table below indicates which of the river stocks mentioned above (a) are currently failing to meet their conservation limits; and (b) are expected to fail their conservation limits in 2011.
River Currently failing CL (2006 data)? Current compliance with management objective(1)? Predicted compliance with management objective in 2011(2)? Aln CL and management objective not set for this river Coquet No Pass Pass Tyne No Pass Pass Wear No Pass Pass Tees Yes Fail Fail Yorkshire Esk No Uncertain Uncertain Wye Yes Fail Fail Severn No Uncertain Uncertain Usk (Wales) No Uncertain Uncertain Taff &Ely (Wales) Yes Fail Fail Rhymney & Ebbw (Wales) & Parrett CLs and management objectives not set for these rivers Note: (1) The management objective is to meet or exceed conservation limits four years out of five (2) The Environment Agency's predictions of compliance are to 2011 not 2010 1 Potter and O’Maoileidigh, 2006
asked Her Majesty's Government:
On which rivers in England licensed net fisheries for salmon and sea trout are expected to operate in 2007; and which of these rivers (a) are currently failing to meet their conservation limits; and (b) are expected to fail their conservation limits in 2010. [HL3297]
The information requested is set out in the table below:
River with net fishery Currently failing CL (2006 data)? Current compliance with management objective(1)? Predicted compliance with management objective in 2011(2)? Hants Avon (3) Yes Fail Fail Stour (3) Yes Fail Fail Frome No Uncertain Uncertain Piddle Yes Fail Fail Exe No Uncertain Uncertain Teign No Uncertain Uncertain Dart Yes Fail Fail Camel No Pass Pass Fowey No Pass Pass Taw No Uncertain Uncertain Torridge Yes Fail Uncertain Severn No Uncertain Uncertain Wye Yes Fail Fail Dee No Uncertain Uncertain Ribble No Uncertain Uncertain Lune No Pass Pass Kent No Pass Pass Leven Yes Fail Uncertain Duddon No Uncertain Uncertain Eden No Uncertain Uncertain Border Esk No Uncertain Uncertain Notes: (1) The management objective is to meet or exceed conservation limits four years out of five (2) Our predictions are for failure of management objective in 2011 not 2010 (3) Avon and Stour nets fish for sea trout and release all salmon caught