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: Irvine to Loch Long

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
Irvine	River Garnock	NS 3064 3827	M	M	M	M	M	Moderate	No change
Irvine	River Irvine	NS 3069 3824	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Kanaird (Kennart)	River Kanaird	NC 1211 0030	M	M	M	M	M	Good	Improved
Kilchoan	Inverie and Guiserein - Gleann na Guiserein River	NG 7425 0730	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Kilchoan	Inverie and Guiserein - Inverie River	NM 7743 9887	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Kilchoan	River Carnach	NM 8617 9602	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Kinloch	Kinloch River	NC 5564 5287	M	M	P	P	P	Moderate	Improved
Kirkaig	Polly and Oscaig - River Oscaig	NC 0413 1363	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Kirkaig	Polly and Oscaig - River Polly	NC 0663 1413	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Kirkaig	River Kirkaig	NC 0778 1939	G	G	G	G	G	Good	No change
Kishorn	No individual river data held		No data	No data	No data	No data	No Data	No data	No change
Kyle of Sutherland	River Carron (Bonar Bridge)	NH 6063 9189	G	G	G	G	G	Good	No change
Kyle of Sutherland	River Evelix	NH 7344 8756	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Kyle of Sutherland	River Oykel SAC	NH 6093 9121	G	G	G	G	G	Good	No change
Kyle of Sutherland	River Shin	NH 5723 9664	G	G	G	G	G	Good	No change
Laggan	Kintour and Claggain - Claggain River	NR 4630 5364	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Laggan	Kintour and Claggain - Kintour River	NR 4652 5175	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Laggan	Laggan and Sorn - River Laggan	NR 2928 5541	M	M	M	P	P	Poor	No change
Laggan	Laggan and Sorn - River Sorn	NR 3326 6209	M	M	M	P	P	Poor	No change
Laxford	Duartmore Burn	NC 1787 3695	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Laxford	Laxford and Gleann Dubh – River Laxford	NC 2293 4737	M	P	P	M	G	Good	No change
Leven	River Coe	NN 0981 5921	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Leven	River Leven (Inverness-shire)	NN 1814 6214	P	M	M	G	G	Good	No change
Little Loch Broom (Little Broom)	Dundonnel River	NH 0906 8879	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Loch Long	Ling and Elchaig - River Elchaig	NG 9344 3016	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change
Loch Long	Ling and Elchaig - River Ling	NG 9350 3025	P	P	P	P	P	Poor	No change

Thanks for your feedback

Information

Gradings: Irvine to Loch Long