Publication - Consultation paper

Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2026 season

Published: 6 August 2025
Directorate: Marine Directorate
Topic: Marine and fisheries

Seeking your views on the proposed river gradings for the 2026 salmon fishing season. Submit your views by 7 September 2025.

Closed
This consultation closed 7 September 2025.

View this consultation on consult.gov.scot, including responses once published.

Consultation analysis

Salmon fishing - proposed river gradings for the 2026 season: consultation analysis

Supporting documents

Gradings: Creed to Ewe

Prior to 2025 season, we referred to Grades 1, 2 and 3 to explain the river gradings assessment. However, to enable greater understanding and clarity amongst our stakeholders and general public interests, we have now moved to describe these as:

good conservation status (G) which was formerly known as Grade/Category 1 rivers
moderate conservation status (M) which was formerly known as Grade/Category 2 rivers
poor conservation status (P) which was formerly known as Grade/Category 3 rivers, and therefore subject to mandatory catch and release

There is no individual river data held for 8 districts. These remain in poor conservation status for 2026.

District	River Name	Outflow point	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026 - Proposed	Change
Creed	Eishken Estate – Abhainn Shromois	NB 2485 1555	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Creed	Eishken Estate - Abhainn Smuaisibhig	NB 2726 0486	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Creed	Eishken Estate - Loch Eishken system	NB 3278 1184	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Creed	Eishken Estate - Loch Sgiobacleit system	NB 2944 1632	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Creed	Eishken Estate - Loch Stiomrabhaigh system	NB 3465 1145	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Creed	River Creed	NB 4185 3178	M	M	P	P	M	Moderate	No change
Creed	Soval Estate - Loch Strandavat system	NB 2701 1975	M	M	P	M	P	Poor	No change
Creed	Soval Estate - River Laxay	NB 3320 2118	M	M	P	M	P	Poor	No change
Creed	Aline Estate - Abhainn Mhuil	NB 2134 1282	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Creed	Aline Estate - Abhainn Mor Kintaravay	NB 2319 1729	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Creran	River Creran	NN 0054 4563	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Croe (Crowe)	River Shiel (Shiel Bridge)	NG 9327 1889	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Dee (Aberdeenshire)	Carron Water	NO 8753 8573	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Dee (Aberdeenshire)	Cowie Water	NO 8754 8621	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Dee (Aberdeenshire)	River Dee SAC	NJ 9655 0605	G	G	G	G	G	Good	No change
Dee (Kirkcudbright)	River Dee (Kirkcudbright-shire)	NX 6842 5127	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Deveron	River Deveron	NJ 6945 6385	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Deveron	Water of Philorth	NK 0223 6487	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Don	River Don	NJ 9528 0943	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Doon	River Doon	NS 3238 1952	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Drummachloy	No individual river data held		No data	No data	No data	No data	No data	No data	No change
Dunbeath	Dunbeath Water	ND 1649 2946	G	G	M	M	P	Moderate	Improved
Echaig (Eckaig)	River Eachaig	NS 1569 8277	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Ewe	River Ewe	NG 8576 8091	G	G	M	M	M	Moderate	No change

Thanks for your feedback

Information

Gradings: Creed to Ewe