The Wildlife Crime in Scotland Report 2024 has just been published and covers the period 2024-25. Fish poaching was the most common offence type over the six-year period 2019-20 to 2024-25 (348 out of 1452 offences; 24%).
The average monetary fine for all wildlife crime offences for this five-year period was £1,335, ranging from £334 for fish poaching to £3,075 for badger offences. Whilst the average penalty for fish poaching remains frustratingly low, the conviction rate for fish is the highest across wildlife crime categories, at 100%. The low average penalties that persist for fish offences are disproportionate to the environmental harm caused. Such minimal penalties fail to deter offenders and undermine efforts to protect Atlantic salmon, now classified by the IUCN as endangered in Great Britain.
In light of this data, Fisheries Management Scotland has long called for tougher penalties for the most serious offences against Scotland’s Atlantic salmon and sea trout. When enacted, the increased penalties introduced by the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill will be a significant step forward in the right direction and will provide a greater deterrent. We are now working to ensure that increased penalties are in place across all of Scotland, including the Tweed and Border Esk (which are covered by the UK Parliament). We will also push to ensure that the changes in penalties translate into sentencing, and we will be contributing to the work on sentencing guidelines for wildlife crime.
