Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2026 season

Proposed conservation status for the 2026 fishing season

An assessment of the conservation status of salmon in inland waters in Scotland is carried out each year and each river or assessment group is assigned a conservation status depending on the outcome of that assessment. As a result of the latest assessment, we are proposing that the conservation status of a number of rivers or groups of rivers will change for the 2026 fishing season. A summary of these changes and a full overview of the proposed conservation status for the 2026 fishing season are available.

The detailed changes for the coming year are:

Conservation status has improved for eight stocks compared to the previous year, including five stocks which will no longer require mandatory catch and release. These are:

• Dunbeath Water
• Kinloch River
• Loch Steisavat
• River Clyde
• River Morar

Conservation status has declined in four stocks compared to the previous year, including two stocks which will become mandatory catch and release fisheries in 2026. These are:

• Laxadale Lochs
• River Etive

As in previous years, we propose that River Leven (Dunbartonshire), assessed as being in good conservation status, should be awarded poor conservation status to reflect the lower grading of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the catchment – Endrick Water.

We propose that River Ness, assessed as being in good conservation status, should be treated as moderate conservation status to reflect the lower grading of an SAC in the catchment - River Moriston SAC.

The River Teith SAC is assessed as being in good conservation status, while the Forth is in moderate 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 did for 2024 & 2025.

Question 1

Do you agree with the proposed river gradings for the 2026 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 gradings for all of Scotland
• I am interested in the proposed gradings for a number of districts and/or river areas
• I am interested in the proposed gradings 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, Skye etc.

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

By river, these are as outlined in the river grading 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 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 25MB. If you wish to send material larger than 25MB then please break this into two or more files (each under 25 MB) and send these across in multiple emails.

Question 5

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

Question 6

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 25MB. If you wish to send material larger than 25MB 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