Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2024 season

We sought views on the proposed river gradings for the 2024 salmon fishing season. The consultation opened on the 9 August and closed on 8 September 2023.

There were 37 responses submitted to the consultation which consisted of those from individuals (46%) and organisations (54%). A small proportion of respondents (14%) agreed with the proposed gradings for the 2024 salmon fishing season, 41% objected and the remainder did not express a specific view for or against the gradings. A number of respondents (35%) indicated that they believed the proposed grade assigned to a specific river was incorrect and should be changed.

A majority of respondents expressed views demanding urgent actions taken on other pressures that they felt needed to be taken now in order to better protect salmon populations. Additionally, 27% of respondents indicated that they felt a 100% catch and release policy would be more effective in protecting and restoring wild salmon populations.

The views given on the proposed river gradings have been used to inform the process of finalising the gradings for the 2024 salmon fishing season, which will be used in the annual amendment to The Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016.

We have set out in the accompanying Implementation Plan to our Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy, over 60 collective actions which will contribute to further the protection and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon populations. The Wild Salmon Strategy is one component of the Scottish Government’s ambition to protect and restore Scotland's natural environment as outlined in the Environment Strategy for Scotland and the Biodiversity strategy to 2045: tackling the nature emergency.

The Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan Delivery Group has been established, bringing together the organisations that will deliver the actions set out in the Implementation Plan. The role of the group is to oversee and direct delivery of the Strategy and Implementation Plan.