Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan Delivery Group minutes: May 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Caro Cowan, Marine Directorate (Chair) 
• Claire Speedie, Marine Directorate 
• Steven Dora, Marine Directorate 
• Hazel Wilson, Marine Directorate 
• Cameron Sinclair, Marine Directorate 

• John Armstrong, Marine Directorate 
• Blair Hunter, Marine Directorate 
• Sinead Sheridan, Scottish Government
• Alan Wells, Fisheries Management Scotland 

• Chloe Grant, Fisheries Management Scotland 

• Mark Bilsby, Atlantic Salmon Trust 

• Jamie Stewart, River Tweed Commission and the Tweed Foundation
• Jamie Ribbens, Galloway Fisheries Trust

• Roger Knight, Spey Catchment Initiative 

• Alison Baker, Angling Scotland

• Colin Bean, NatureScot 

• Sarah Robinson, Scottish Wildlife Trust 

• Alexa MacAuslan, Northern District Salmon Fishery Board

Apologies 

• Linsey Mason-McLean, Scottish Forestry 
• Roy Richardson, Scottish Environment Protection Agency 

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly noting the attendance of Sinead Sheridan, guest speaker on National Marine Plan 2.

Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting which took place on 28 February 2025 were approved.

Review of outstanding actions

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

2.2 - the Group were content with the collective communications strategy and have agreed to review in a years time
3.2 - Marine Directorate to invite SEPA to update at next meeting on possibility of estimating additional salmon smolts per year (or production of large parr) associated with areas of opened-up habitat
3.5 - Science and Evidence Board intend to meet in August to discuss predation and will then report back to Delivery Group
3.7 - on consenting timetable for developments, no forward look is publicly available and this would be driven by developer submission timescales

Science and Evidence Board Update

Updates were provided from the Science and Evidence Board (SEB) on the following topics:

Harmonisation of fish monitoring

The Scottish Government, SEPA and NatureScot have commenced a process of collating their Salmon monitoring, noting the needs of each organisation and opportunities for efficiencies. The process will be finalised when needs to support SEPA’s sea lice risk assessment framework are clarified. 

The Group discussed how future data on juvenile salmon (through NEPS), could be sustained and developed going forward, with a focus on targeting and delivering for as many interests as possible.

The next phase of work will be to extend this harmonisation work to also include monitoring from the private and charity sectors.

• action point 4.1 - it was suggested that the Group might also look at how environmental data can best be made readily available to fish management organisations. It was requested that this issue be considered further in discussion with SEPA at the next meeting of the Delivery Group

Stocking

The SEB met to discuss the feedback received from the Delivery Group on SEB’s initial advice. 

The SEB will meet again to discuss recently emerging data and determine whether amendment to its advice is required before concluding its work on recovery stocking.

Predation

The Delivery Group had previously requested a summary of background information on impacts of seal and fish-eating birds on salmon for supporting discussions on predator licensing. In response, the SEB intended to meet in the early Autumn to progress this request. The aim was to also include key advisors to licensing bodies in the process. It was raised that there was a particular focus on seals, but there should also be a focus on predation from other fish (specifically pike and trout). It was raised that fish predation, though important, is not a licensing issue. However, it was noted that control of pike populations was very much an active consideration in some parts of Scotland and guidance would be welcomed. It was agreed that fish predation could be discussed later in the year, perhaps alongside conversations around large wood – this could be looked at in parallel process. 

• action point 4.2 – fish predation to be discussed by SEB and Delivery Group in future meetings

Framework and Financial Review Task and Finish Group Update

FMS provided an update of the work of the Task and Finish Framework and Financial Review Group.

The Task and Finish Group have looked at how local management could be better supported and resourced and opportunities to develop more nature finance. They are now developing recommendations and will report to the Delivery Group once complete with proposed next steps.

WSS Implementation Plan

Annual Report and Mid-term “stock take”

The Group discussed progress, concerns and collective action going forward. It was raised that completed actions within the report must be able to show a positive effect on salmon and if there are further steps needed, it would be helpful for the Group to note.

• action point 4.3 – the Group discussed how to further improve accessibility for users engaging with the annual report.  A virtual dashboard was suggested as an option and FMS agreed to consider, in the first instance, how this may operate
• action point 4.4 – following discussion on warming rivers and lochs, Marine Directorate to explore value in Fish Health Inspectorate reporting on progress of fish disease at future Group meeting
• action point 4.5 – the Group discussed how to engage other sectors responsible for pressures. It was agreed that FMS will draft a proposal to prompt discussion on how to engage responsible sectors

National Marine Plan 2 

The Group heard a presentation from Marine Directorate’s National Marine Plan 2 team. It was noted that a whole suite of policies within the existing NMP affect salmon and the importance of how the diadromous fish policy interacts with all other policies was stressed.

The Group noted the importance of monitoring of the impact of marine planning decisions and the importance of mitigation, when a planning decision is taken that will (or may) impact diadromous fish. The Group also noted the importance of guidance for decision makers, for example, marine renewable developers.

Update of NatureScot Species Licensing review

It was noted that the review will be made public on NatureScot website in the autumn. The Group agreed to return to this once the review is published.

Any other business

• action point 4.6 – the Group discussed consideration of diadromous fish in offshore wind applications, and it was agreed that the Marine Directorate and FMS would further discuss how to better ensure this within the consenting process

Date of next meeting

The next meeting is expected to take place in September 2025.

Actions taken from this meeting:

4.1 - SEPA to update on how environmental data can best be made available to fish management organisations.

4.2 - Fish predation to be discussed by both the Science and Evidence Board and the Delivery Group at future meetings.

4.3 - FMS to explore and consider option of a virtual dashboard for improving accessibility and engagement for the next annual report.

4.4 - Marine Directorate to explore value in Fish Health Inspectorate reporting on progress of fish disease at future Group meeting.

4.5 - The Group discussed how to engage other sectors responsible for pressures. It was agreed that FMS will draft a proposal to prompt discussion on how to engage responsible sectors.

4.6 - Marine Directorate and FMS to discuss how to better ensure consideration of diadromous fish in offshore wind applications.