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: Gour to Iorsa

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
Gour	No individual river data held		No data	No data	No data	No data	No data	No data	No change
Gress (Greiss)	River Gress	NB 4902 4120	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Gress (Greiss)	Laxdale and Blackwater (Lewis) - River Laxadale	NB 4321 3443	P	P	P	M	P	Poor	No change
Gress (Greiss)	Laxdale and Blackwater (Lewis) - River Blackwater	NB 4417 3590	P	P	P	M	P	Poor	No change
Grudie	Kyle of Durness - Daill River	NC 3592 6822	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Grudie	Kyle of Durness - Grudie River	NC 3583 6307	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Grudie	Kyle of Durness - River Dionard	NC 3647 6252	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Gruinard	Gruinard River	NG 9586 9201	G	G	G	G	M	Moderate	No change
Gruinard	Little Gruinard River SAC	NG 9473 8991	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Halladale	Halladale River	NC 8891 6481	G	G	G	G	G	Good	No change
Helmsdale	River Helmsdale	ND 0286 1514	G	G	M	G	G	Good	No change
Hope and Polla or Strathbeg	River Hope	NC 4788 6209	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Hope and Polla or Strathbeg	River Polla	NC 3909 5470	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Howmore	Howmore and Loch Bi - Howmore River	NF 7525 3629	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Howmore	Howmore and Loch Bi - Loch Bi system	NF 7694 4640	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Howmore	Kildonan and Loch a' Bharp - Loch a' Bharp system	NF 7892 2041	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Howmore	Kildonan and Loch a' Bharp - Loch Kildonan system	NF 7232 2759	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Inchard	Abhainn Aisir Mhor system	NC 2017 5833	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Inchard	Rhiconich River	NC 2535 5228	G	G	G	G	G	Good	No change
Inchard	Strath Shinary River	NC 2249 6543	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Inner	Corran River	NR 5459 7123	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Inner	Lussa River (Jura)	NR 6425 8682	P	P	P	M	P	Poor	No change
Inner	Oisdale River	NR 5973 8412	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Inver	River Inver	NC 0957 2305	M	M	M	M	M	Good	Improved
Iorsa	Glenrosa Water	NS 0110 3666	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Iorsa	Iorsa Water	NR 8831 3686	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Iorsa	Machrie Water	NR 8926 3350	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change

Thanks for your feedback

Information

Gradings: Gour to Iorsa