Scotland’s management of salmon and freshwater fisheries must be ‘robust, sustainable and fit for purpose in the 21^st century’, First Minister Alex Salmond has said.

The Scottish Government has now asked outgoing Scottish Natural Heritage Chairman Andrew Thin to chair an independent review of wild fisheries management in Scotland.

The aims of the review are to:

• Develop and promote a modern, evidence-based management system for wild fisheries fit for purpose in the 21^st century and capable of responding to our changing environment.
• To manage, conserve and develop our wild fisheries to maximise the sustainable benefit of Scotland’s wild fish resources to the country as a whole and particularly to rural areas.

The First Minister made the announcement at the official opening of the 2014 salmon fishing season on the River Tay, where he spoke of the importance of wild fisheries to Scotland.