Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan Delivery Group minutes: January 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Caro Cowan, Marine Directorate (Chair)
• Nanjika Nasiiro, Marine Directorate
• Claire Speedie, Marine Directorate
• John Armstrong, Marine Directorate
• Anna Bragg, Marine Directorate
• Blair Hunter, Marine Directorate
• Alison Baker, Angling Scotland
• Wendy Kenyon, Atlantic Salmon Trust
• Fiona Simpson, Crown Estate Scotland
• Alan Wells, Fisheries Management Scotland
• Jamie Ribbens, Galloway Fisheries Trust
• Colin Bean, NatureScot
• Alexa MacAuslan, Northern District Salmon Fishery Board
• Roy Richardson, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Sarah Robinson, Scottish Wildlife Trust
• James Hunt, Tweed Foundation

Apologies

• Mark Bilsby, Atlantic Salmon Trust
• Jamie Stewart, River Tweed Commission and the Tweed Foundation
• Linsey Mason-McLean, Scottish Forestry
• Roger Knight, Spey Catchment Initiative

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, noting those absent and those attending as deputies.

Review of actions from the previous meeting

The Chair updated on delivered and outstanding actions, in particular:

3.2 Action on SEPA estimating additional salmon smolts per year associated with areas of opened-up habitat remains as ongoing.

4.3 Action for FMS to explore use of virtual dashboard for Annual Progress Report remains as ongoing.

4.5 Action on consideration of diadromous fish in offshore wind applications and how to ensure this within the consenting process. Marine Directorate plan to invite relevant colleagues to attend meeting. Action ongoing.

5.2 Action for Marine Directorate to investigate how Delivery Group can engage with NatureScot’s species licensing review. Delivered.

5.3 Action for Science and Evidence Board to draft a table of the priorities agreed by the Delivery Group for work going forward. Delivered.

5.4 Action for Marine Directorate to prepare scoping paper on how to deliver Implementation Plan Action 1.25. “Establish a new task and finish group focussing on wild fish disease…”. This action remains as ongoing.

5.6 Delivery Group to provide comments on “A Modernised Framework for Scotland’s Wild Fisheries: Finance, Capacity and Governance for the Future" paper by 31st Oct. Delivered.

5.7 Action for Marine Directorate to consider recommendations and respond to “A Modernised Framework…” paper. Action remains as ongoing.

5.8 Action for Marine Directorate to engage with Water Environment colleagues on water scarcity concerns. Delivered.

Wild Salmon & Recreational Fisheries Team Update

Marine Directorate’s Wild Salmon and Recreational Fisheries (WSRF) team updated the Group on the following:

The Team is continuing to develop a first draft Conservation Commitment Report to submit to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO), setting out actions to address pressures facing wild Atlantic salmon, on which the Government will report during NASCO’s next reporting cycle.

Having consulted on the proposed gradings for river categorisations for the upcoming season, the Conservation of Salmon Amendment Regulations 2025 shall come into force on 1 April 2026 and will specify where salmon are subject to mandatory catch and release practices for the 2026 season.

The Team noted that they are engaging with Scottish Canals, who have provided a report on the Implementation Plan Action 1.17 [Undertake a review of the risk to fish migration of the canal network and associated management structures] and are discussing next steps.

The Team also referenced the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, being considered by the Scottish Parliament.  Update note: the Bill has since been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Science and Evidence Board Update

A schedule of business for 2025-26 from the Science and Evidence Board (SEB) was presented to the Group, with relevant updates.

Update for 2025:

Review of potential beaver impacts:  Advice on beaver impacts is being discussed by the SEB, with input from the NatureScot salmon-beaver group. A final draft document is being produced with an estimated delivery of March 2026.

Harmonisation of public sector salmon monitoring:  This work is ongoing.

Forward look for 2026:

Review of large wood additions:  A workshop for this has been scheduled for early March 2026.

Review of pressures - scope for mitigation, priority knowledge gaps: the SEB intends to scope and plan schedule and timescales.

Integrate harmonisation of public and private/charity sector monitoring: the SEB intends to scope and plan schedule and timescales.

Delivery Group Member Updates

Fisheries Management Scotland presented options to discuss on how the Group might engage with sectors whose actions and interests may impact on wild salmon populations:  either through establishing a sub-group(s), to bring together representatives from key industry sectors whose activities intersect with the freshwater, coastal, and marine environments critical to wild salmon, or to invite industry representatives to future Delivery Group meetings. The Group also discussed existing engagement opportunities and agreed, that to make best use of resources, it would be beneficial to identify opportunities to invite sector leads to attend future Delivery Group meetings.

FMS’s “A Modernised Framework for Scotland’s Wild Fisheries” paper can be viewed on their website.

• action 6.1 – Scottish Wildlife Trust to explore what cross-sector groups exist to build connections and explore funding opportunities with
• action 6.2 - Marine Directorate colleagues to consider future engagement opportunities for industry representatives to attend Delivery Group meetings and propose to Delivery Group

FMS also provided the additional updates regarding:

•    engagements with Marine Directorate officials to ensure that accredited training, or alternative proposals, are in place for those rivers which have received seal licenses

•    progress to further develop the AI tool which processes ARIS sonar data, funded by Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) and that MFS funding has also purchased enforcement and monitoring equipment for FMS members

•    ongoing PhD research at the University of Aberdeen (funded by FMS members) regarding main phylotypes of Saprolegnia found in rivers suffering mass mortalities of fish in comparison with the phylotypes found in rivers that do not have major issues

•    progress by FMS members delivering fish barrier assessments before 31 March 2026 at a range of pre-identified sites

•    work on the Scottish Rivers Fund, including brand development, production of an investment prospectus and recruitment of key members onto the Fund’s Steering Group

Annual Progress Report

The Marine Directorate updated on planning for the 2025 Annual Progress Report, with the importance of detailed and well-constructed returns highlighted to the Group.

The Group noted that the publication date of the Report may be impacted by the upcoming Scottish Parliamentary elections in May.

• action 6.3 – Marine Directorate officials to consider how Annual Progress Report publication might be influenced by pre-election guidance

Prioritisation of Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan Scottish Government Actions

The WSRF team provided intended timeframes for delivery of Implementation Plan Actions, for which they have responsibility.

It was agreed by the Group that the Implementation Plan Action 2.4 (“Undertake a review of enforcement powers, the offences and penalty regime for salmon poaching and other offences, aiming to increase penalties if necessary”) has been partly completed, with the FMS Enforcement Committee’s review of the penalty regime for salmon poaching.  The Group agreed that the other elements of this action, to review enforcement powers and offences, should be considered if there is at a future date wider consideration of wild fisheries reform.

Any other business and agreement of actions

The Group were reminded of the importance of adhering to the mandatory catch and release policy within areas of poor conservation status.

Angling Scotland raised the suggestion of a project for additional boots on the ground at target rivers, to assist in gathering more data regarding seal sightings. AB additionally raised that fisheries in England and Wales have access to Fisheries Improvement Programme funds and suggested it would be helpful to discuss how this could be replicated in Scotland. Angling Scotland are keen to discuss this with the Wild Salmon & Recreational Fisheries team.

Actions taken from this meeting:

6.1 – Scottish Wildlife Trust to explore what cross-sector groups exist to build connections and explore funding opportunities with.

6.2 - Marine Directorate colleagues to consider future engagement opportunities for industry representatives to attend Delivery Group meetings and propose to Delivery Group.

6.3 – Marine Directorate officials to consider how Annual Progress Report publication might be influenced by pre-election guidance.