Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan Delivery Group minutes: February 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Caro Cowan, Marine Directorate (Chair)
• John Armstrong, Marine Directorate
• Steven Dora, Marine Directorate
• Aisling Duncan, Marine Directorate
• Rebecca Greenan, Marine Directorate
• Blair Hunter, Marine Directorate
• Molly Nurse, Marine Directorate
• Cameron Sinclair, Marine Directorate
• Claire Speedie, Marine Directorate
• Hazel Wilson, Marine Directorate
• Alan Wells, Fisheries Management Scotland
• Chloe Grant, Fisheries Management Scotland
• Mark Bilsby, Atlantic Salmon Trust
• Jamie Ribbens, Galloway Fisheries Trust
• Jamie Stewart, River Tweed Commission
• Roger Knight, Spey Catchment Initiative
• Gus Brindle, Angling Scotland (in place of Alison Baker)
• Colin Bean, NatureScot
• Roy Richardson, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Sarah Robinson, Scottish Wildlife Trust
• Fiona Simpson, Crown Estate Scotland

Apologies

• Alison Baker, Angling Scotland
• Linsey Mason-McLean, Scottish Forestry

 

 

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited a round of introductions which included Claire Speedie as the new head of the wild salmon and recreational fisheries team within the marine directorate, taking the place of Antje Branding.

Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting which took place on 23 October 2024 were approved by the group.

Review of actions

The Group discussed particular actions, specifically:
It was agreed that wild salmon strategy vision should remain as it is, though a necessary focus on urgency and deliverables was noted.
Update on statutory underpinning for nature recovery targets provided by Rebecca Greenan. A discussion was had around enforcement powers/penalties and their potential for inclusion in future legislation.
Update on progress of seal licensing review provided by Molly Nurse. Regarding seal management professional development course, there have been discussions regarding a specific module on seals for marksmen. The aim is for this to be available around September 2025.

• action point 1 - fisheries management scotland to circulate to rest of the delivery group their report on the use of acoustic deterrent devices during 2024. 

The chair advised that going forward, an action log would be used to keep track of and update on actions.

Implementation plan 2024 annual progress report

An initial draft was shared ahead of the meeting and further comments from the group have been requested by Monday 10 March.

• action point 2 - A final paper is hoped to be ditrubuted by late April 2025.

There was discussion on how best to present the report contents, to support buy-in across the spectrum of stakeholder interests.
It was suggested that the work around barrier removal and other progress on actions should be highlighted as case studies of progress, in the report. 
There was general agreement that the narrative of the report should emphasise what has been delivered and link to the target actions in the wild salmon strategy implementation plan.
The group discussed comms opportunities on publicising the progress made on the actions in the implementation plan.

• action point 3 - It was agreed that marine directorate colleagues would discuss with scottish environment protection agency representatives potential for case studies to be included in the progress report.

Science and evidence board advice paper on recovery stocking

JA led discussion on science and evidence board work on recovery stocking.
The sceince and evidence board had drawn clear conclusions regarding scientific support and recommendations for most potential forms of recovery stocking. It had, however, highlighted that there is a need for a delivery board “management” view on whether risks of smolt-adult supplementation should be generally accepted as opposed to allowing potential for natural recovery with subsequent stock rebuilding if necessary.
The general consensus of the delivery board was that smolt-adult supplementation could not be recommended for general application in wild salmon populations because, based on present understanding and in addition to risks set out by the science and evidence board, there are particular concerns regarding:

• the potential for interference from smolt-adult supplementation with natural processes of adjustment of populations to changes in the marine environment that may lead to robust natural recovery in the longer term.
• the potential for actions from smolt-adult supplementation in one river to affect other rivers due to introgression from straying fish.
• a need for long term (multi decadal) financial and logistical support of smolt-adult supplementation programmes, to the detriment of other conservation management activities.

The general consensus of the delivery board is that until assessed more fully for general management application, smolt-adult supplementation should be conducted only as part of bona fide research initiatives and not on populations considered to be under threat of extirpation and far below the conservation limit of the home stream/river or those of high conservation value, for example special areas of conservation.

Science and evidence board prioritisation of business update

It was agreed that priorities for business of the sceince and evidence board are:

• continue and complete harmonisation of wild salmon monitoring across public, private and charity sectors.
• review introductions of large wood to rivers.
• consider reviews of the range of pressures to identify and scope out potential for mitigation and identify major priority science knowledge gaps.

In support of plans for the delivery board to consider management of salmon predation, the science and evidence board was requested to provide an outline summary of the position regarding underpinning science, recognising that there would not be scope for full review of the area in the time available.

Scottish environment protection agency update on barrier removal

RR from scottish environment protection agency provided a presentation on barrier removal projects across Scotland.
14 barrier removals have taken place, and this has freed up 1400km of habitat. 

• action point 4 - RR to circulate powerpoint slides.
• action point 5 - RR to consider and report back to the delivery board the potential for SEPA to estimate additional salmon smolts per year (or production of large parr) associated with areas of opened-up habitat.

Comms strategy (for agreement, carried over from previous meeting)

Discussion was had around collective communication strategy and need to promote and highlight work of delivery group.
The group agreed that it would be valuable to set up a separate discussion on comms and how best to publicise the progress made in completing implementation plan actions.

• action point 6 - marine directorate to speak with fisheries management scotland to agree how best to take forward. 
• action point 7 - marine directorate agreed need the check the communication strategy logo.

Predation

Group discussed merits of non-lethal measures around predation. 
GB stated angling scotland survey had upwards of 1500 responses and predation and poaching were top issues in 85%.
Group agreed that a separate meeting to discuss predation is needed and that it would be valuable for the science and evidence board to consider and provide a summary outline of underpinning evidence. 

• action point 8 - agreement that fisheries management scotland and marine directorate science colleagues will discuss initial steps to take this forward. 

Round table updates - key emerging issues

Discussion had around offshore renewables and ability of those with an interest and knowledge to respond to the consenting process. The group also discussed the development of pumped hydro storage schemes and how to ensure the group’s interests are fed in.

• action point 9 - marine directorate to consider value in inviting colleagues to the delivery group to speak on marine planning and offshore renewable policy development. 
• action point 10 - marine directorate to understand forward look of consenting timetable for developments. 

Readout from wild salmon connections

A discussion was had around the recent wild walmon connections conference in London. It was noted that the success of community engagement is universal.

• action point 11 - fisheries managment scotland raised the declaration that was developed at the conference and agreed to circulate within group to read. 

Publication of provisional catch statistics

• action point 12 - provisional catch Statistics have been released, and these will be distributed within group. 

Any other business

fisheries management scotland are working on a policy review paper and intend to raise this at next meeting of group.

Date of next meeting

The next meeting is expected to take place end of May 2025.

It was agreed that a longer meeting is beneficial, especially for those traveling.