Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2022 season
- Part of
- Marine and fisheries
Views sought on proposed river gradings for the 2022 salmon fishing season.
In this document:
- overview
- proposed river gradings 2022
- how to submit your views
- background to the assessment
- changes from the 2021 assessment
- proposed regulations
- documents
Overview
Proposed river gradings for the 2022 salmon fishing season have been published. These are set out below.
You can submit your views on the proposed gradings and regulations, between 11 August and 10 September 2021. See how to do this below.
Proposed river gradings for the 2022 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 grading depending on the outcome of that assessment.
You can watch a video explaining the annual assessment process.
As a result of the latest assessment, we are proposing that the grading of a number of rivers or groups of rivers will change for the 2022 fishing season.
The proposed gradings are set out in the following tables.
Summary table
Category |
2016 (Districts) |
2017 (Rivers) |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (Proposed) |
1 |
11 |
47 |
28 |
48 |
36 |
36 |
35 |
2 |
15 |
48 |
21 |
30 |
34 |
35 |
37 |
3 |
82 |
73 |
122 |
95 |
103 |
102 |
101 |
▲ Grade rises one level - this applies to 8 rivers in 2022.
▼ Grade falls one level - this applies to 8 rivers in 2022.
Note: Count will come to 102 for Grade 3 due to North Harris SAC lying in two fishery districts.
Clyde Coast
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Ayr |
River Ayr |
NS 3282 2274 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Carradale |
Carradale Water |
NR 8023 3722 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Carradale |
Glenlussa Water |
NR 7652 2552 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Clyde and Leven |
Endrick Water SAC |
NS 4262 8957 |
2 |
no change |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Clyde and Leven |
River Clyde |
NS 4615 7250 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clyde and Leven |
River Goil |
NN 1959 0147 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Clyde and Leven |
River Leven (Dunbartonshire) * |
NS 3951 7423 |
2 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Doon |
River Doon |
NS 3238 1952 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Echaig (Eckaig) |
River Eachaig |
NS 1569 8277 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Fyne |
Cuilarstich Burn |
NR 8598 8796 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Fyne |
Kinglas Water |
NN 1803 1086 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Fyne |
River Aray |
NN 0982 0905 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Girvan |
Water of Girvan |
NX 1827 9820 |
2 |
▲ |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Iorsa |
Glenrosa Water |
NS 0110 3666 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Iorsa |
Iorsa Water |
NR 8831 3686 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Iorsa |
Machrie Water |
NR 8926 3350 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Irvine |
River Garnock |
NS 3064 3827 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Irvine |
River Irvine |
NS 3069 3824 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Ruel |
River Ruel |
NS 0112 8100 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Stinchar |
River Stinchar |
NX 0810 8166 |
2 |
no change |
* The River Leven (Dunbartonshire) is awarded a Grade 2 due to the presence of the Grade 2 Endrick Water SAC within the system.
East Region
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Forth |
River Almond |
NT 1888 7705 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Forth |
River Avon |
NS 9559 8111 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Forth |
River Carron (Grangemouth) |
NS 9310 8280 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Forth |
River Devon |
NS 8492 9359 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Forth |
River Forth |
NS 7982 9439 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Forth |
River Leven (Fife) |
NO 3803 0041 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Forth |
River Teith SAC ** |
NS 7982 9439 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Forth |
River Tyne |
NT 6246 7926 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Tay |
River Earn |
NO 1980 1865 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Tay |
River Eden |
NO 4519 1919 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Tay |
River Tay SAC |
NO 1970 1888 |
1 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Tweed |
River Tweed SAC |
NU 0010 5228 |
1 |
no change |
** The River Teith SAC excludes: 1) the Allan Water which drains to NS 7866 9603 and 2) all inland waters which drain to NS 7695 9614. It is awarded a Grade 2 due to the Grade 2 in the wider River Forth.
Moray Firth Region
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Alness |
Alness River |
NH 6586 6803 |
2 |
▼ |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Alness |
Balnagowan River |
NH 7797 7299 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Alness |
River Glass |
NH 6278 6561 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Beauly |
River Beauly |
NH 5537 4816 |
1 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Conon |
River Conon |
NH 5616 5788 |
1 |
no change |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Deveron |
River Deveron |
NJ 6945 6385 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Deveron |
Water of Philorth |
NK 0223 6487 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Findhorn |
River Findhorn |
NJ 0244 6184 |
1 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Lossie |
River Lossie |
NJ 2384 7072 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Nairn |
River Nairn |
NH 8886 5710 |
1 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Ness |
River Moriston SAC |
NH 4298 1622 |
2 |
▼ |
3 > 2 |
3 > 2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Ness |
River Ness (excluding the Moriston) |
NH 6599 4700 |
2 |
▼ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Spey |
River Spey SAC |
NJ 3439 6567 |
1 |
no change |
North East Region
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Bervie |
Bervie Water |
NO 8356 7253 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Dee (Aberdeenshire) |
Carron Water |
NO 8753 8573 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Dee (Aberdeenshire) |
Cowie Water |
NO 8754 8621 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Dee (Aberdeenshire) |
River Dee SAC |
NJ 9655 0605 |
1 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Don |
River Don |
NJ 9528 0943 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
North Esk |
River North Esk |
NO 7394 6251 |
1 |
no change |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
South Esk |
River South Esk SAC |
NO 6753 5771 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Ugie |
River Ugie |
NK 1217 4739 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Ythan |
River Ythan |
NK 0063 2441 |
3 |
no change |
North Region
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Berriedale |
Berriedale and Langwell Waters SAC |
ND 1202 2248 |
1 |
no change |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Brora |
River Brora |
NC 9099 0384 |
1 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Brora |
River Loth |
NC 9537 0980 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Dunbeath |
Dunbeath Water |
ND 1649 2946 |
1 |
no change |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Forss |
Forss Water |
ND 0286 6994 |
1 |
no change |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Grudie |
Kyle of Durness |
Daill River |
NC 3592 6822 |
2 |
no change |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Grudie |
Kyle of Durness |
Grudie River |
NC 3583 6307 |
2 |
no change |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Grudie |
Kyle of Durness |
River Dionard |
NC 3647 6252 |
2 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Halladale |
Halladale River |
NC 8891 6481 |
1 |
no change |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Helmsdale |
River Helmsdale |
ND 0286 1514 |
1 |
no change |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Hope and Polla or Strathbeg |
River Hope |
NC 4788 6209 |
2 |
no change |
|
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Hope and Polla or Strathbeg |
River Polla |
NC 3909 5470 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Kinloch |
Kinloch River |
NC 5564 5287 |
2 |
no change |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Kyle of Sutherland |
River Carron (Bonar Bridge) |
NH 6063 9189 |
1 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Kyle of Sutherland |
River Evelix |
NH 7344 8756 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Kyle of Sutherland |
River Oykel SAC |
NH 6093 9121 |
1 |
no change |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Kyle of Sutherland |
River Shin |
NH 5723 9664 |
1 |
no change |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Naver and Borgie |
River Borgie SAC |
NC 6839 6227 |
1 |
no change |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Naver and Borgie |
River Naver SAC |
NC 7100 6017 |
1 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Strathy |
River Strathy |
NC 8346 6578 |
3 |
no change | |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Thurso |
River Thurso SAC |
ND 1176 6817 |
1 |
no change | |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Wick |
Wick River |
ND 3623 5089 |
1 |
no change |
North West Region - Cape Wrath to Kyle of Lochalsh
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Applecross |
River Applecross |
NG 7146 4548 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Badachro |
Kerry and Badachro group |
Badachro River |
NG 7826 7375 |
3 |
▼ |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Badachro |
Kerry and Badachro group |
River Kerry |
NG 8122 7388 |
3 |
▼ |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Balgay |
Balgy River |
NG 8476 5465 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Broom |
River Broom |
NH 1765 8511 |
1 |
▲ |
|
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Ewe |
River Ewe |
NG 8576 8091 |
1 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Gruinard |
Gruinard River |
NG 9586 9201 |
1 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Gruinard |
Little Gruinard River SAC |
NG 9473 8991 |
3 |
no change |
|
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Inchard |
Abhainn Aisir Mhor system |
NC 2017 5833 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Inchard |
Rhiconich River |
NC 2535 5228 |
1 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Inchard |
Strath Shinary River |
NC 2249 6543 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Inver |
River Inver |
NC 0957 2305 |
2 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Kanaird (Kennart) |
River Kanaird |
NC 1211 0030 |
2 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Kirkaig |
Polly and Oscaig |
River Oscaig |
NC 0413 1363 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Kirkaig |
Polly and Oscaig |
River Polly |
NC 0663 1413 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Kirkaig |
River Kirkaig |
NC 0778 1939 |
1 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Laxford |
Duartmore Burn |
NC 1787 3695 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Laxford |
Laxford and Gleann Dubh |
Gleann Dubh River |
NC 2873 3340 |
3 |
▼ |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Laxford |
Laxford and Gleann Dubh |
River Laxford |
NC 2293 4737 |
3 |
▼ |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Little Loch Broom (Little Broom) |
Dundonnel River |
NH 0906 8879 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Torridon |
River Torridon |
NG 8995 5510 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Ullapool |
Ullapool River |
NH 1233 9469 |
2 |
no change |
North West Region - Kyle of Lochalsh to Ardnamurchan
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Ailort (Aylort) |
River Ailort |
NM 7649 8202 |
2 |
▲ |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Arnisdale |
River Arnisdale |
NG 8499 0935 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Carron |
River Carron (Strathcarron) |
NG 9339 4138 |
2 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Croe (Crowe) |
River Shiel (Shiel Bridge) |
NG 9327 1889 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Glenelg |
Gleann Beag River |
NG 8044 1812 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Glenelg |
Glenmore River |
NG 8119 1987 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Kilchoan |
Inverie and Guiserein |
Gleann na Guiserein River |
NG 7425 0730 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Kilchoan |
Inverie and Guiserein |
Inverie River |
NM 7743 9887 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Kilchoan |
River Carnach |
NM 8617 9602 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Loch Long |
Ling and Elchaig |
River Elchaig |
NG 9344 3016 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Loch Long |
Ling and Elchaig |
River Ling |
NG 9350 3025 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Moidart |
River Moidart |
NM 7078 7242 |
2 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Morar |
River Morar |
NM 6755 9247 |
2 |
▲ |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Shiel |
Achateny and Fascadale |
Achateny Water |
NM 5185 7063 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Shiel |
Achateny and Fascadale |
Allt Fascadale |
NM 4987 7069 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Shiel |
River Shiel (Shielfoot) |
NM 6596 7116 |
3 |
no change |
Other Areas
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
3 |
3 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
Drummachloy |
No individual river data held |
|
*** |
no change |
3 |
3 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
Fleet (Sutherland) |
No individual river data held |
|
*** |
no change |
3 |
3 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
Gour |
No individual river data held |
|
*** |
no change |
3 |
3 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
Kishorn |
No individual river data held |
|
*** |
no change |
3 |
3 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
Orkney Islands |
No individual river data held |
|
*** |
no change |
3 |
3 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
Sanda |
No individual river data held |
|
*** |
no change |
3 |
3 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
Shetland Islands |
No individual river data held |
|
*** |
no change |
3 |
3 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
Small Isles |
No individual river data held |
|
*** |
no change |
*** No individual river data is held in 8 Districts - These remain Grade 3 for 2022.
Outer Hebrides
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
||
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clayburn |
East Harris |
Abhainn Leac a' Li |
NG 1256 9290 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clayburn |
East Harris |
Abhainn na Ciste |
NG 0745 8753 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clayburn |
East Harris |
Loch Creavat system |
NG 1183 9286 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clayburn |
East Harris |
Loch Flodabay system |
NG 0996 8893 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clayburn |
East Harris |
Loch Huamavat system |
NG 0821 8764 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clayburn |
East Harris |
Loch Manias system |
NG 1001 8940 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Clayburn |
Laxadale Lochs |
NG 1815 9952 |
2 |
no change |
||
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clayburn |
Scaladale and Vigadale |
River Scaladale |
NB 1900 1029 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Clayburn |
Scaladale and Vigadale |
River Vigadale |
NB 1892 1150 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Creed |
Eishken Estate |
Abhainn Shromois |
NB 2485 1555 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Creed |
Eishken Estate |
Abhainn Smuaisibhig |
NB 2726 0486 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Creed |
Eishken Estate |
Loch Eishken system |
NB 3278 1184 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Creed |
Eishken Estate |
Loch Sgiobacleit system |
NB 2944 1632 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Creed |
Eishken Estate |
Loch Stiomrabhaigh system |
NB 3465 1145 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Creed |
River Creed |
NB 4185 3178 |
2 |
no change |
||
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Creed |
Soval Estate |
Loch Strandavat system |
NB 2701 1975 |
2 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Creed |
Soval Estate |
River Laxay |
NB 3320 2118 |
2 |
no change |
|
|
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
Creed |
Aline Estate |
Abhainn Mhuil |
NB 2134 1282 |
3 |
no change |
|
|
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
Creed |
Aline Estate |
Abhainn Mor Kintaravay |
NB 2319 1729 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Fincastle |
Loch Steisavat system |
NG 0145 8697 |
3 |
no change |
||
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Fincastle |
River Laxdale (Harris) |
NG 0921 9722 |
1 |
no change |
||
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Fincastle |
North Harris SAC |
Abhainn Mhiabhaig |
NB 0994 0602 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Fincastle |
North Harris SAC |
Amhuinnsuidhe |
NB 0498 0768 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Fincastle |
North Harris SAC |
Leosavay River |
NB 0408 0809 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Gress (Greiss) |
River Gress |
NB 4902 4120 |
3 |
no change |
||
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Gress (Greiss) |
Laxdale and Blackwater (Lewis) |
River Laxadale |
NB 4321 3443 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Gress (Greiss) |
Laxdale and Blackwater (Lewis) |
River Blackwater |
NB 4417 3590 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Howmore |
Howmore and Loch Bi |
Howmore River |
NF 7541 3622 |
2 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Howmore |
Howmore and Loch Bi |
Loch Bi system |
NF 7694 4640 |
2 |
no change |
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Howmore |
Kildonan and Loch a' Bharp |
Loch a' Bharp system |
NF 7892 2041 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Howmore |
Kildonan and Loch a' Bharp |
Loch Kildonan system |
NF 7232 2759 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Loch Roag |
Caslabhat and Tamanabhaigh |
Abhainn Caslabhat |
NB 0354 3136 |
3 |
▼ |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Loch Roag |
Caslabhat and Tamanabhaigh |
Abhainn Tamanabhaigh |
NB 0404 2014 |
3 |
▼ |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Loch Roag |
Forsa River (Lewis) |
NB 0533 3260 |
1 |
no change |
||
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Loch Roag |
Langavat SAC |
NB 2155 2968 |
1 |
no change |
||
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Loch Roag |
Loch Morsgail system |
NB 1387 2427 |
3 |
no change |
||
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Loch Roag |
Mhor a' Ghlinne Ruaidh and Geisiadar |
Abhainn Mhor a' Ghlinne Ruaidh |
NB 1017 3255 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Loch Roag |
Mhor a' Ghlinne Ruaidh and Geisiadar |
Loch Geisiadar system |
NB 1131 3221 |
3 |
no change |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Loch Roag |
River Barvas |
NB 3404 5079 |
2 |
no change |
||
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Loch Roag |
River Blackwater (Lewis) |
NB 2339 3140 |
1 |
no change |
||
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Loch Roag |
River Carloway |
NB 2021 4245 |
3 |
no change |
||
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Mullanageren, Horasary and Lochna-Ciste (North Uist) |
Abhainn Eig |
NF 7716 7376 |
3 |
no change |
||
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Mullanageren, Horasary and Lochna-Ciste (North Uist) |
Horisary River |
NF 7611 6761 |
1 |
▲ |
||
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Mullanageren, Horasary and Lochna-Ciste (North Uist) |
North Uist Lochs |
Loch Grogary system |
NF 7088 7204 |
3 |
▼ |
|
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Mullanageren, Horasary and Lochna-Ciste (North Uist) |
North Uist Lochs |
Loch nan Geireann system |
NF 8438 7363 |
3 |
▼ |
|
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Mullanageren, Horasary and Lochna-Ciste (North Uist) |
North Uist Lochs |
Loch Sgealtair system |
NF 9065 6840 |
3 |
▼ |
|
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Resort |
North Harris SAC |
Abhainn Mhor Ceann Reasort |
NB 1060 1720 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Resort |
North Harris SAC |
Loch a' Ghlinne system |
NB 0181 1355 |
3 |
no change |
Skye
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Sligachan, Broadford and Portree |
Broadford River |
NG 6413 2362 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Sligachan, Broadford and Portree |
Brogaig, Stenscholl and Kilmaluag |
Kilmaluag River |
NG 4387 7491 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Sligachan, Broadford and Portree |
Brogaig, Stenscholl and Kilmaluag |
River Brogaig |
NG 4760 6848 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Sligachan, Broadford and Portree |
Brogaig, Stenscholl and Kilmaluag |
Stenscholl River |
NG 4847 6829 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Sligachan, Broadford and Portree |
Lealt River |
NG 5203 6046 |
2 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Sligachan, Broadford and Portree |
River Sligachan |
NG 4908 3044 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Sligachan, Broadford and Portree |
Varragill River |
NG 4766 4122 |
1 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Snizort |
Drynoch and Eynort |
Eynort River |
NG 3810 2644 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Snizort |
Drynoch and Eynort |
River Drynoch |
NG 4062 3140 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Snizort |
Fhionnairigh and Scavaig |
Abhainn Camas Fhionnairigh |
NG 5096 1880 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Snizort |
Fhionnairigh and Scavaig |
Scavaig River |
NG 4874 1949 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Snizort |
Fhionnairigh and Scavaig |
Ant-Statha Mhoir |
NG 5642 2239 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Snizort |
Hinnisdal to Haultin |
River Haultin |
NG 4168 5173 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Snizort |
Hinnisdal to Haultin |
River Hinnisdal |
NG 3828 5755 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Snizort |
Hinnisdal to Haultin |
River Romesdal |
NG 4079 5338 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Snizort |
Snizort and Ose |
River Ose |
NG 3137 4063 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Snizort |
Snizort and Ose |
River Snizort |
NG 4137 4878 |
2 |
no change |
Solway
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Annan |
River Annan |
NY 1904 6454 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Bladnoch (Bladenoch) |
River Bladnoch SAC |
NX 4407 5482 |
2 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Cree |
River Cree |
NX 4654 5812 |
1 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Dee (Kirkcudbright) |
River Dee (Kirkcudbrightshire) |
NX 6842 5127 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Fleet (Kirkcudbright) |
Water of Fleet |
NX 5876 5476 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Luce |
Water of Luce |
NX 1955 5563 |
2 |
▲ |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Nith |
River Nith |
NX 9945 6610 |
3 |
no change |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Urr |
Urr Water |
NX 8362 5458 |
2 |
no change |
West Region
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
District |
River Name |
Outflow point |
2022 - Proposed |
Change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Add |
River Add |
NR 8049 9248 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Aline |
River Aline |
NM 6976 4751 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Awe |
River Awe |
NN 0127 3273 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Awe |
River Etive |
NN 1162 4537 |
2 |
▲ |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Baa |
Coladoir and Leidle |
Coladoir River |
NM 5421 2886 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Baa |
Coladoir and Leidle |
Leidle River |
NM 5187 2644 |
3 |
no change |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Baa |
River Ba |
NM 5372 4109 |
1 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Baa |
River Bellart |
NM 4299 5175 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Creran |
River Creran |
NN 0054 4563 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Inner |
Corran River |
NR 5459 7123 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Inner |
Lussa River (Jura) |
NR 6425 8682 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Inner |
Oisdale River |
NR 5973 8412 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Laggan |
Kintour and Claggain |
Claggain River |
NR 4630 5364 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Laggan |
Kintour and Claggain |
Kintour River |
NR 4652 5175 |
3 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Laggan |
Laggan and Sorn |
River Laggan |
NR 2928 5541 |
2 |
no change |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Laggan |
Laggan and Sorn |
River Sorn |
NR 3326 6209 |
2 |
no change |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Leven |
River Coe |
NN 0981 5921 |
3 |
no change |
|
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Leven |
River Leven (Inverness-shire) |
NN 1814 6214 |
2 |
▲ |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Lochy |
River Lochy |
NN 1089 7477 |
3 |
▼ |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Lochy |
River Nevis |
NN 1087 7466 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Lussa |
Lussa River (Mull) |
NM 6895 3085 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Nell |
River Euchar |
NM 8244 2218 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Nell |
River Nell |
NM 8750 2471 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Ormsary |
Barr Water |
NR 6610 3576 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Pennygowan |
Aros River |
NM 5585 4474 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Pennygowan |
River Forsa (Mull) |
NM 6000 4331 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Scaddle |
River Scaddle |
NN 0233 6853 |
3 |
no change |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Sunart |
Carnoch River |
NM 8352 6071 |
3 |
no change |
How to submit your views
By law, we are required to publish notice of the proposals and invite representations or objections to them.
If you wish to submit a view on the above proposed gradings you should:
Email: salmonandrecreationalfisheries@gov.scot
Or write to:
Salmon and Recreational Fisheries
PO Box 24196
Edinburgh
EH7 9GJ
Background to the assessment
The conservation status of stocks is assessed on a river by river basis, except for those areas where fishery catch cannot be assigned to individual rivers. In such cases rivers are combined to form assessment groups. The conservation status of each stock is defined by the probability of the stock meeting its conservation limit over a five-year period. Rather than a simple pass or fail, stocks are allocated to one of three grades, each with its own recommended management actions:
Category |
Probability of Meeting Conservation Limit (CL) |
Advice |
1 |
At least 80% |
Exploitation is sustainable therefore no additional management action is currently required. This recognises the effectiveness of existing non-statutory local management interventions. |
2 |
60-80% |
Management action is necessary to reduce exploitation: catch and release should be promoted strongly in the first instance. The need for mandatory catch and release will be reviewed annually. |
3 |
Less than 60% |
Exploitation is unsustainable therefore management action, including mandatory catch and release (all methods), is required to reduce exploitation. |
Changes from the 2021 assessment
The assessment for the 2022 season has followed the methodology developed in previous years. No new rivers or groups have been added for this year’s assessment.
While the methodology has not changed for the 2022 season, the assessment has been made using the most up to date data available from fish counters and catch returns from the 2020 fishing season. The 2020 fishing season was affected by the restrictions imposed by the pandemic which inevitably led to a reduction in “rod-effort” and the numbers of fish caught.
Although it is not possible to fully account for the complexity of the pandemic and its impact on rod fishing, local information was used to develop methods which allow its impact to be accounted for in stock assessments for each river or group of rivers. This ensures that the outcomes of the assessment are based on the best available information. A paper on methods for accounting for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adult salmon stock estimates in Scotland was published by Marine Scotland Science earlier this year.
Proposed river gradings for the 2022 season
The proposed river gradings can be viewed for each river or group of rivers in the tables above.
You may also check the proposed 2022 grading for individual rivers, or more detailed information for any of the rivers.
The overall position, and the net effect of the various changes is summarised in the table below:
Category |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (Proposed) |
1 |
47 |
28 |
48 |
36 |
36 |
35 |
2 |
48 |
21 |
30 |
34 |
35 |
37 |
3 |
73 |
122 |
95 |
103 |
102 |
101 |
The detailed changes for the coming year are:
Eight rivers or groups rise one grade from the previous year. Of these, six systems will no longer require catch and release. These are:
- River Ailort
- River Etive
- Water of Girvan
- River Leven (Inverness-shire)
- Water of Luce
- River Morar
Eight systems fall one grade, including five rivers which will become mandatory catch and release fisheries in 2022. These are:
- Kerry and Badachro group
- Laxford and Gleann Dubh
- Casablhat and Tamanabhaigh
- River Lochy
- North Uist Lochs
As in previous years, we propose that River Leven (Dunbartonshire), assessed at grade 1, should be awarded grade 2 status to reflect the lower grading of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the catchment – Endrick Water; and
The River Teith SAC is assessed at grade 1 while the Forth is a grade 2. 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 2 grades for both areas, as we did for 2021.
Proposed regulations
The Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016, as amended, set out the regime for the regulation of salmon fishing in Scotland. In general terms the regulations:
- prohibit the retention of salmon caught in coastal waters;
- permit the killing of salmon within inland waters where stocks are above a defined conservation limit – i.e. those rivers accorded category 1 or 2 status for the fishing season; and
- require mandatory catch and release of salmon in areas which are below their defined conservation limit following the assessment of salmon stocks – i.e. those rivers accorded category 3 status for the season.
For the 2022 season, the Scottish Government will bring forward amending regulations which will replace the current Schedule 2. This schedule details the specific inland waters which are subject to the prohibition on retaining salmon.
No other changes are currently proposed for the 2022 season.
River Tweed
Separate legislation and arrangements are in place for the management of salmon and freshwater fisheries in the River Tweed district. The Tweed Regulation (Salmon Conservation) (No. 2) Order 2016 (“the Tweed No. 2 Order”) came into force on 1 April 2017 and made provision to regulate the taking of salmon in the district. In effect the Order:
- prohibits the retention of salmon caught in coastal waters in the Tweed district; and
- allows the retention of salmon caught in the Tweed and all inland waters in the district as defined in article 2(1)(a) of the Order.
The outcome of the conservation assessment for the Tweed for the 2022 season again accords the river Category 1 status. In the light of this, the Scottish Government does not propose to amend the legislation as a result of the latest assessment and the Tweed No. 2 Order will remain in force.
Documents
Contact
Email: salmonandrecreationalfisheries@gov.scot
Postal address:
Salmon and Recreational Fisheries
PO Box 24196
Edinburgh
EH7 9GJ
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