Scottish ministers drop proposed ban on wild salmon killing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-34383503

Version 0 of 1.

The Scottish government has dropped proposals which would have banned the killing of wild salmon except under licence.

Ministers said they were now minded to opt for a system which would see conservation plans introduced in areas where numbers have fallen.

The revised proposals were brought forward after concerns over the government's original plans.

The move has been welcomed by conservation and workers' groups.

The government plans to allow the killing of salmon in areas of good conservation status.

Environment minister Aileen McLeod said: "As a result of extensive consultation, we have moved away from the idea of an individual licensing system and will not be pursuing the introduction of any charging regime.

"We will however be introducing the concept of a conservation plan in areas where salmon fail to achieve good conservation status.

"The marked decline in wild salmon stocks warrants a serious response and the Scottish government is required under European rules to ensure our salmon fisheries are sustainable and compliant.

'Strike the right balance'

Duncan Ferguson, of the SGA Fishing Group, said: "The environment minister deserves praise for listening and acting.

"The kill license concept would have been very difficult to enforce and police and, in some cases, may have led to more fish rather than less being killed, especially given the high level of voluntary catch and release being operated already by rod anglers.

"The SGA Fishing Group believes the ideas now up for discussion could help to strike the right balance between salmon conservation, which is necessary, and the needs of the workers and communities that depend on anglers coming to our rivers to fish, and the benefits that brings."

Hughie Campbell Adamson, chairman of Salmon and Trout Conservation (Scotland), added: "We welcome this pragmatic approach.

"We have long advocated that any exploitation of salmon should be limited to rivers and fisheries with a clear sustainable surplus. There is little point in creating a burdensome administrative system for rivers with healthy stocks."

There will now be a further 28-day consultation period to hear views on the revised proposals.