Clause 222
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
4:45 pm
Martin Salter (Reading West, Labour)
That is why a consultation has been launched by the Environment Agency. That is why it is right and proper that we seek not to prescribe the matter in the Bill, but to give the Environment Agency the byelaw-making powers. There is a world of difference between a river that is primarily a coarse fish river where one would expect fish to be returned, and a stream where one can generate a sustainable harvest. There is a world of difference between people stealing fish to reseed and populate other fisheries in a way that could spread diseases, particularly KHV—koi herpes virus, which could decimate carp stocks in the UK if unchecked—and sensible fisheries management.
I hope that the Environment Agency will use the powers we give it to bring forward byelaws that will deliver a national catch and release policy with exceptions. Those exceptions could include the trout stream of the hon. Member for Newbury, or sensible, well-organised clubs such as Newbury angling club, or the Reading and district or Thatcham angling associations—to give the clubs in our constituencies a plug—which could apply to the relevant Environment Agency fisheries officer for an exemption. Until we bring in a framework that is coherent, understandable and enforceable, we will not make sense of the issue.