Salmon fishing: proposed conservation statuses for 2027 season

Proposed conservation statuses for the 2027 fishing season

An assessment of the conservation status of salmon in inland waters in Scotland is carried out each year and each stock is assigned a conservation status depending on the outcome of that assessment. A stock is usually a single river but may be a group of rivers or Special Area of Conservation. As a result of the latest assessment, we are proposing that the conservation status of a number of stocks will change between the 2026 and 2027 fishing seasons.

A summary of these changes and a full overview of the proposed conservation statuses for the 2027 fishing season are available.

The detailed changes for the coming year are:

Conservation status has improved for three stocks compared to the previous year, with three stocks no longer requiring mandatory catch-and-release. These are:

• Barr Water
• Little Gruinard River Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
• River Etive

Conservation status has declined in 21 stocks compared to the previous year, including 11 stocks which will become mandatory catch-and-release fisheries in 2027. These are:

• Kinloch River
• River Clyde
• River Creed
• River Forth
• River Hinnisdal
• River Morar
• River Moriston SAC
• River Ness
• River South Esk SAC
• River Teith
• Ullapool River

The River Leven (Dunbartonshire), assessed as being in moderate conservation status, is awarded poor conservation status to reflect the lower status of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the catchment – Endrick Water SAC.

We propose that River Ness, assessed as being in moderate conservation status, should be awarded poor conservation status to reflect the lower status of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the catchment - River Moriston SAC.

The River Teith SAC is assessed as being in moderate conservation status, while the Forth is in poor conservation status. However, the situation is complicated by the overlap between the areas (the Teith SAC extends into the River Forth) and we again propose that we should use the lower of the two statuses for both areas, as we have done in previous years.

Question 1

Do you agree with the proposed changes for the 2027 season?

• I agree with the proposed changes
• I disagree with the proposed changes
• I neither agree or disagree with the proposed changes

Please explain your answer.

Question 2

Please indicate your particular area of interest in the conservation assessment.

• I am interested in the whole assessment process
• I am interested in the proposed conservation statuses for all of Scotland
• I am interested in the proposed conservation statuses for a number of districts and/or river areas
• I am interested in the proposed conservation statuses for a particular district or river area
• I am interested in all of the above
• I am not interested in any of the above

Please explain your answer.

Question 3

If you are mainly interested in a specific region, district, river or area please specify your area(s) of interest. You can use the examples below to help describe your area.

Definitions and examples

By region, these are as outlined in the supporting pdf documents. Examples include: Moray Firth, North East, Outer Hebrides, West Coast etc.

By district, these are as outlined in the conservation statuses tables. Examples include: Ewe, Gour, Loch Roag, Ythan etc.

By river, these are as outlined in the conservation statuses tables as river name. Examples include: Balnagowan River, River Doon, River Garnock, Wick River etc.

Please give details below.

Question 4

Do you have any concerns about missing or incorrect data, such as catch returns or fish counter information, for your area(s) of interest?

• Yes
• No

Please give details below.

If you would like to submit further evidence to support your answer, such as word documents or pdf files etc., please send this to salmonandrecreationalfisheries@gov.scot. Please include your unique ID, which will be provided once you have submitted your response.

Please make sure your file is under 25 MB. If you wish to send material larger than 25 MB then please break this into two or more files (each under 25 MB) and send these across in multiple emails.

Question 5

Do you foresee the changes to the conservation status having an impact on you or your business?

• Yes
• No

Please explain.

If you would like to submit further evidence to support your answer, such as word documents or pdf files etc., please send this to salmonandrecreationalfisheries@gov.scot. Please include your unique ID, which will be provided once you have submitted your response.

Please make sure your file is under 25 MB. If you wish to send material larger than 25 MB then please break this into two or more files (each under 25 MB) and send these across in multiple emails.

Question 6

Do you have any concerns about being financially impacted by the proposed conservation status?

• Yes
• No

Please give details below.

If you would like to submit further evidence to support your answer, such as word documents or pdf files etc., please send this to salmonandrecreationalfisheries@gov.scot. Please include your unique ID, which will be provided once you have submitted your response.

Please make sure your file is under 25 MB. If you wish to send material larger than 25 MB then please break this into two or more files (each under 25 MB) and send these across in multiple emails.

Question 7

What, if any, information did we not provide that would have been helpful in preparing an informed response to this consultation?

Please give details below.