CONSERVATION bodies have welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to scrap plans to license the killing of wild salmon.

The Salmon and Trout Conservation Society (Scotland) said the proposals, which ministers said were designed to protect wild fisheries, would have created a "burdensome administrative system" for rivers with healthy salmon stocks.

Chairman Hughie Campbell Adamson said: “We have long advocated that any exploitation of salmon should be limited to rivers and fisheries with a clear sustainable surplus. There is little point in creating a burdensome administrative system for rivers with healthy stocks. In such circumstances it makes sense to maintain the status quo."

Environment Minister, Aileen Macleod, said fishery districts would instead be categorised according to their salmon’s conservation status and a charging scheme will no longer be pursued.

The killing of salmon will be allowed where the species is in good conservation status, restricted in areas of moderate conservation status and limited to catch and release only where the conservation status is poor.

Katy Dickson, policy officer at Scottish Land & Estates, said: "The measures appear to be more targeted and there is an appreciation that one size does not fit all when it comes to wild fisheries policy.