Announcements

CONSERVATION OF WILD SALMON

1. Earlier this year Scottish Ministers introduced a package of measures to manage the conservation of salmon on an annual basis according to its conservation status. The assessment model for 2016 categorised 109 fishery districts and the 17 Special Areas of Conservation for Atlantic salmon resulting in the introduction of mandatory catch and release in areas where stocks were below their conservation limit. A number of refinements have been made to the assessment model for 2017 and where possible the assessment of conservation status will be made on a river by river basis. Further information on the assessment process and the list of provisional gradings for rivers/areas is available from the Marine Scotland website: www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Salmon-Trout-Coarse/fishreform/licence.

2. In terms of paragraph 11 of schedule 1 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 2003 (“the Act”) notice is hereby given that the Scottish Ministers propose to make conservation regulations under section 38 of the Act to regulate the killing of salmon in Scotland including a prohibition on retaining any salmon caught in any coastal waters.

3. The general effect of this proposal will be: a. to prohibit the retention of salmon caught in coastal waters which will be reviewed in 2018; b. to permit the killing of salmon within inland waters where stocks are above a defined conservation limit; c. to introduce mandatory catch and release in areas which fall below their defined conservation limit following the annual assessment of salmon stocks; and d. to agree a conservation plan in conjunction with Marine Scotland for all areas that have been assessed.

4. Under section 38(7) of the Act it is an offence to act in contravention of the regulations or to fail to take any action required to comply with a requirement of the regulations. If a person is found guilty of such an offence they will be liable to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale. 5. The carcass tagging regime will continue for commercially caught fish within inland waters in category 1 and 2 areas. 6. Representations or objections in respect of the proposed conservation regulations should be submitted by 29 September 2016 using the contact details below. Representations should include, where relevant, details of any financial implications particularly related to loss of income.

Fiona Hepburn Marine Scotland Salmon and Recreational Fisheries Team Area 1B North Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ Email: salmonandrecreationalfisheries@gov.scot