asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry why the Inland Fisheries Trust removes trout from all the inland rivers, making them unattractive to angling tourists.

The Inland Fisheries Trust removes trout from our rivers only when this is necessary for the protection and development of trout fisheries in the waters involved. Generally, it is a matter of removing yearling trout from nursery areas in order to enable the fry to survive as well as removing older trout downstream that are competing unduly with younger trout. The trout removed are stocked in the parent fisheries.

The techniques used by the trust are well established and are designed for the improvement of trout fisheries and the benefit of angling.

The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for next sitting day.