Early-running spring salmon are being further protected through mandatory catch and release measures.

The measures, which come into force before the start of the 2015 season and will run for five years, have been introduced following the statutory 28 day consultation which concluded earlier this month. They have been designed to protect the currently low levels of spring salmon in Scotland.

Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“The Scottish Government places a high value on conservation of our wild Scottish salmon and other wild fish stocks. While I recognise the tremendous contribution that catch and release and the voluntary cessation of netting have had in previous seasons, I think more should be done to provide certainty about the protection of spring stocks.

“The Independent Review of Wild Fisheries has recently concluded and we are currently considering the recommendations from it and will consult further on firm policy propositions in due course. However the protection of the spring stocks cannot wait for that work to be completed and we have taken positive action to protect this iconic species.”

The Conservation of Salmon (Annual Close Time and Catch and Release) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 can be viewed here.

The ASFB response to the consultation can be viewed here.