Number of hatchery fish caught in the Tay catchment: EIR release

Information request and response under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.


Information requested

The number of hatchery fish which have been caught in the Tay catchment since 1994, broken down annually. If there are estimates as to what this total catch means for the total number of hatchery fish which returned to the system, then I would like these figures too.

You subsequently clarified (4 December 2024) that the term “hatchery-reared” referred to “hatchery fish stocked into the river on purpose”, i.e. you did not request information on catches of farm-escaped fish.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs. That exception applies because the Scottish Government does not collect or hold information on the numbers of stocked fish caught by salmon and sea trout fisheries.

This exception is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information on catches of stocked fish, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

ANNEX

The Scottish Government publishes annual Official Statistics on salmon and sea trout catches (Marine publications: information on Scottish salmon and sea trout statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)). Information on how we collect fishery information, including copies of the catch return forms, is published on our website (Marine publications: collecting salmon and sea trout fishery data - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)). You will see that we do not ask for information specifically relating to catches of stocked fish.

Regarding the stocking of fish, within the Tay catchment the Licencing Authority for this activity is the Tay District Salmon Fishery Board and not the Scottish Government. Where Scottish Government are the Licencing Authority, we do not require the marking of fish. As each application is assessed on its merits, should an application include plans for marking or monitoring, that would be included in the assessment and may influence the outcome of the process. SG guidance and policies regarding the introductions of fish to Scottish inland waters can be found at Introduction of freshwater fish and ova: forms and guidance - gov.scot.

Regarding your EIR request to the Tay District Salmon Fishery Board, they are a statutory public body and thus subject to Freedom of Information legislation, including the Environmental Information Regulations. As such they must respond to your request to them and the Scottish Government cannot do so on their behalf.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Back to top