The law relating to salmon and freshwater fisheries is complex. There are different provisions for different species, including permissible methods for fishing, close times, catch and release requirements and other regulations. A key feature is the way the law differentiates between salmon and sea trout (migratory salmonids) and brown trout and other freshwater fish.

As well as the key governing legislation – the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 – national salmon conservation regulations have applied since 2016 which manage the exploitation of salmon in inland waters on an annual basis through a river categorisation system. There are also a range of local regulations which prohibit certain baits and lures used in salmon fishing.

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003
The 2003 Act consolidated the vast majority of the Scottish salmon and freshwater fisheries law into a single Act. The 2003 Act is the key governing legislation for Scotland’s district salmon fishery boards, and it sets out the provisions for the constitution, composition and financing of the boards. It is also the framework for a number of other important regulatory areas, including legal methods of fishing and offences, close times, local regulatory measures, protection of juvenile and spawning salmon, passage of salmon, and general powers relating to appointment of water bailiffs and enforcement of salmon and freshwater fisheries law.  We have produced a short guide to Freshwater fisheries & the law in Scotland This guide is not a legal document and does not provide a legal view on any of the provisions. A list of the key Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries offences is provided below.

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 – key offences

SectionOffence Note
This should be read in conjunction with the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 which inserts a number of amendments and new offences into the 2003 Act.
1 (1)Fishing for salmon in inland waters other than by rod and line or net & coble or – in certain circumstances – cruive, haaf net or certificated fixed engine
1(2)Fishing for salmon in the sea other than by rod & line, net & coble or bag net, fly net or other stake net
2Fishing for freshwater fish in inland waters other than by rod & line
3AUsing a rod not held by hand for salmonids (not from a boat)Using more than 4 rods not held by hand for non-salmonids (not from a boat)Using more than 4 rods on a boat to catch fishInserted by 2007 Act
4Use of roe, fire or light as a bait or lure; Use of live vertebrates as bait*; foul hooking*;*Inserted by 2007 Act
5Use of explosives, poisons or electrical devices to take or destroy fish
3Use of gaffs, & tailersInserted by 2007 Act
5AUse of pike gags and knotted or metallic mesh keep-netsInserted by 2007 Act
6Fishing without written permission or legal right (salmon)
7Fishing contrary to ss. 1, 2 or 6 of the 2003 Act by two or more persons acting together
8Removing dead salmon and trout from water
9Illegal possession of salmon, trout, and articles where there is suspicion that fish have been, or are about to be taken unlawfullyConvictable on evidence of a single witness
10Taking or preventing passage of salmon through a fish passConvictable on evidence of a single witness
11Fishing without permission or legal right (stanks & loch owned by one person).
12 & 48Fishing for brown trout and freshwater fish without legal right or written permission in an area covered by a Protection Order.
13 (2)Fishing for or taking salmon on a SundayConvictable on evidence of a single witness
13 (3)Fishing for or taking salmon during the weekly close time other than by rod and lineConvictable on evidence of a single witness
14Fishing during the annual close time except as allowed for by byelaw, regulation or licenceConvictable on evidence of a single witness
15Failure to remove boats & nets within 36 hours of start of the  annual close timeConvictable on evidence of a single witness
16Possessing, buying or selling salmon during the period when the annual close time is in force in every salmon fishery districtConvictable on evidence of a single witness
17Fishing for, taking or possessing trout during the annual close time for troutConvictable on evidence of a single witness
18Fishing for, taking, possess, buy, sell or expose for sale unclean or unseasonable salmonConvictable on evidence of a single witness
19Possessing, buying, selling or exposing for sale salmon roeConvictable on evidence of a single witness
20Possessing salmon which have been illegally taken, killed or landedConvictable on evidence of a single witness
21Consigning salmon or trout in an unmarked package
21 (5)Obstruction of any person authorised under s.21(6) to check unmarked packages (consignment of fish in an unmarked package)
22Size limit for buying or selling trout (under 20cm)Sale of any trout between 1 Sep-31 March
23(1)Knowingly taking, injuring, destroying, buying, selling or exposing for sale smolts, parr, salmon fry or alevin or use of any device to obstruct the passage of young salmon
23(2)Knowingly injuring or disturbing salmon spawn; or disturbing spawning bed, bank or shallow
23(3)Obstructing the passage of salmon to spawning grounds during the annual close time
25Use of un-certificated fixed engine in Solway
26Fishing without legal right or permission for any fish other than salmon in the rivers running into the Solway Firth (excl Annan)
31(1)(d) & (7)Fishing for salmon with net of mesh size less than 90mm (stretched mesh)Also refer to SI 1992/1974 regulation 6
as aboveFishing for salmon with a net of twine less than 0.9mm thickAs above, regulation 8A
as aboveUse of monofilament netting in the construction of nets used in fishing for salmonAs above, regulation 8
33(A)Introduction of salmon or salmon spawn in inland waters without the consent of a salmon fishery board (or Scottish Ministers where no board exists)Introduction of other live fish or spawn in inland waters without consent of Scottish MinistersConvictable on evidence of a single witness
38(7)Contravention of any salmon conservation regulationConvictable on evidence of a single witness
50(3)(a)Obstruction of a warden in the exercise of their powers under the Act (s. 49 & 50)
50(3)(b)Obstruction of any person appointed by Scottish Ministers under the Act (s. 50(2)) in the exercise of their powers under that subsection
58Obstruction of a constable or water bailiff in the exercise of their powers under the Act
64Failure of a proprietor or occupier to provide information or statistics, or to allow access to a fishery for related purposes
The Freshwater Fish Conservation (Prohibition on Fishing for Eels) (Scotland) Regulations 2008
SI 2008 no 419Fishing for or taking eels except under licenceMade under S. 51A of 2003 Act
The Conservation of Salmon (Prohibition of Sale) (Scotland) Regulations 2002
SI 200 no 418Sale of rod-caught salmon
The Salmon (Fish Passes and Screens) (Scotland) Regulations 1994
SI 1994 No 2524Failure to comply with regulations on fish passes and screens
The Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967
5Fishing for salmon from a boat in the sea by drift net or other gill net, trawl net, seine net (other than fishing from the shore by net & coble), troll or long line.Also refer to SI 1973/207, as varied by SI 1983/60
6Landing of salmon caught in contravention of an order made under the 1967 ActAlso refer to SI 1972/1966, as varied by SI 1983/58
The Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984
1Fishing for salmon in the sea with any gill net within half a mile of the shoreSI 1986/59
2Carriage of monofilament gill net of mesh size less than 250mm in any British fishing boatAlso refer to SI 1996/1907
3Fishing with trawls or other moving gear within half a mile of a fixed salmon net

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