Our Membership
Our members work every day to protect and restore Scotland’s freshwater species and habitats, and we are proud to showcase their impact.
At Fisheries Management Scotland, we represent 39 District Salmon Fishery Boards, the River Tweed Commission, and 27 Rivers and Fisheries Trusts — local management organisations dedicated to safeguarding wild Atlantic salmon and the ecosystems they depend on.
Find Your Local River or Fishery Manager
Looking for contact details for your local District Salmon Fishery Board or Rivers/Fisheries Trust? Please use the interactive maps below.
What Is Fisheries Management?
Many assume that fisheries management is solely about managing fish — but in reality, it’s about managing entire catchments by addressing impacts, pressures, and human activities. Our members lead this work at the local level, forming the foundation of formal fisheries management across Scotland.
Fish are key indicators of river health — when waterways thrive, so do fish populations. Ensuring access to cold, clean water is essential, but healthy stocks also depend on restoring and protecting their habitats. Across Scotland, our members drive vital efforts in scientific monitoring, habitat restoration, barrier removal, enforcement, predation management, and pioneering conservation projects. Their work not only safeguards fish populations but also strengthens the health of entire ecosystems and communities.
Our Members' Impact in 2023
Native trees to help protect fish habitat planted by our members and partners
1,431
Recorded illegal fishing incidents
20 Secured convictions for fisheries offences
More than
27,000 Views
of ‘Our Wild Salmon’ films
Worked with 345 schools and reached out to 21,385 pupils
to educate them about fish
176
Illegal instruments seized by our fisheries enforcement network
1,657km
Of riverbank invasive species managed by our members
187 offences reported to Police Scotland
408 Pollution incidents and other infringements were reported to SEPA
Our members helped to remove or ease 46 barriers to migratory fish, resulting in 504km of newly accessible fish habitat
Our members responded to 926 local developments, to help protect wild fish. These included developments such as fish farms, wind farms, hydro-power and many other local proposals.
Member Spotlight
Remove the Pressure, Salmon Recover
Across Scotland, our members are leading groundbreaking projects demonstrating the power of local action in tackling environmental challenges and securing a healthier future for our waterways. Explore these case studies to see how our members are making a difference — and be inspired to support and learn from their efforts.
Pioneering New Method for Removing Weirs
Ayrshire
In 2024, Ayrshire Rivers Trust removed Davington Weir on the Border Esk catchment, a groundbreaking project funded by the Water Environment Fund through a SEPA tender. Removing the barrier allowed the river to regain its natural flow and sediment transport. Salmon, trout, and eels were blocked from migrating past the barrier for over a century. The weir removal reopened 5km of high-quality habitat for fish populations.
Unlike conventional demolition methods, Ayrshire Rivers Trust used a technique never before applied in Scotland—non explosive demolition grout. This method involved drilling precise holes into the concrete structure and filling them with an expanding grout.
Read more
As the grout expanded, it fractured the concrete away from the underlying bedrock, allowing for careful removal and recycling offsite. This technique minimises the need for heavy machinery, making it ideal for the site's proximity to British Geological Survey (BGS) geophysical telemetry stations. Traditional demolition risked compromising these stations, so our low-impact method was the perfect solution.
Timing was crucial. The project had to finish
before the 2024 fish spawning season. Despite concerns about weather and water levels, a dry spell provided the perfect window.
Restoring Salmon to Perthshire’s River Garry
Tay District
After more than 60 years of being dry due to hydro abstraction, flow was restored to the River Garry in October 2017, reconnecting 13 km of main stem habitat and 5 km of tributary to migratory salmon. Supported by the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board, SEPA and SSE, this restoration could boost salmon production by up to 1,500 annually—one of the Tay catchment’s most impactful conservation efforts for spring salmon. The next challenge? Reviving the salmon population.
Read more
Because of uncertainty as to how well salmon would ascend natural waterfalls, under only a Q96 base flow, a saturated juvenile population was kick-started bystocking eyed ova from reconditioned salmon kelts. These were sourced from adjacent spring salmon tributaries and reared at the Tay DSFB’s hatchery at Almondbank. Tissue samples were used to create genetic profiles of all broodstock used.
Since 2018, genetic analysis has tracked over 700 juvenile salmon annually, distinguishing wild fish from hatchery stock.
Wild salmon are now spawning successfully along the length of the restored main stem, but not yet the tributary. From 2025, stocking has ceased in the main stem. The success of the unsupported wild population will continue to be monitored.
This project is among the first in Scotland to use genetic typing of hatchery broodstock to assess their role in restoring a self-sustaining salmon population.
Life in the Loch
Ness District
With new Pump Storage Hydro Schemes planned for Loch Ness, the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board launched an educational project to engage local schools in learning about the loch, its wildlife, and environmental challenges. Lessons combined interactive presentations, hands-on activities, and creative projects. 79 students were engaged across three different schools.
The highlight of the programme was a field trip to a local river. Pupils were given a demonstration on electrofishing, enabling them to see the fish up close and went on a bug hunt to identify freshwater invertebrates and measure flow rates.
Read more
The experience brought science to life, sparking curiosity and debate. Kilchuimen pupils extended their research to species like lamprey and eels, while Invergarry pupils launched petitions to protect the loch. Many students even expressed interest in future careers in conservation.
“This Loch Ness centred education project complemented the communityengagement work undertaken by Ness DSFB in relation to the campaign against the plethora of pump storage applications submitted for Loch Ness, which included a leaflet drop to all Loch Ness households, and village hall meetings.
Statutory protection for Loch Ness is limited, which means an even more important role for a well-informed, and engaged local community, when harmful developments are proposed; especially the younger generation.”
– Brian Shaw, River Director Ness DSFB
Scallop Shells to Recover Acidified Watercourses
Galloway
The River Bladnoch catchment faces significant acidification, threatening aquatic life, including salmon. This project tests scallop shells as a natural solution by applying crushed shells to ~3 km of forest tracks to influence runoff and placing whole shells in three acidified watercourses. These applications aim to raise alkalinity, counteracting acid rain and pollution from damaged peatlands.
Read more
This is the first known UK study to test and monitor scallop shell applications in acidified watercourses using these techniques. While past road applications have been done, they lacked scientific monitoring. This project addresses that gap with a five-year trial, systematically tracking changes between 2025 and 2030 in pH, water chemistry, and aquatic biodiversity to assess effectiveness.
The River Bladnoch District Salmon Fishery Board initiated the project and asked GFT to develop the idea. The project then gained strong support from Forestry Land Scotland, Scottish Woodlands, and private landowners.
"The latest ‘scallop shell’ project is a great example of Galloway Fisheries Trust taking an innovative, science based approach to study the effects of adding shell material to drains and forest roads on localised watercourse pH. FLS have been able to provide suitable study sites and civil engineering expertise to the project, and we’re eager to see the results."
- Dr Ed Turner MICFor, Planning & Environment Manager, FLS South Region
River Remeandering & Habitat Restoration
Speyside
The Allt Lorgy river, once straightened and heavily altered for agriculture, has been transformed through a restoration project aimed at reviving its natural flow and habitat. By removing artificial embankments, adding natural wood structures and adopting a Stage Zero approach, the river now supports healthier ecosystems and natural tree growth along its banks.
Read more
This project has turned Allt Lorgy into a self-sustaining, dynamic environment where fish populations have quadrupled as a result of the project — earning it the UK River Prize in 2020 as a model for river restoration and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association Wild Salmon Conservation Award in 2024.