Salmon fishing - proposed river gradings for 2025 season: consultation analysis

3. Consultation analysis

3.1 Respondents and their interests

There were 37 responses submitted to the consultation which consisted of those from individuals (51%) and organisations (49%). A range of organisations submitted responses to the consultation including six District Salmon Fishery Boards, the River Tweed Commission, two river or fisheries trusts, five angling clubs or associations, three organisations with national membership such as Fisheries Management Scotland and two other businesses.

A majority of respondents (54%) indicated that they had an interest in the river grading assessments for the whole of Scotland, although 68% of respondents expressed an interest in specific freshwater systems. More than 35 rivers, lochs and geographical regions across Scotland were indicated to be of interest to the respondents of this consultation.

3.2 Views of consultation respondents on the proposed river gradings

A small proportion of respondents (19%) agreed with the proposed gradings for the 2025 salmon fishing season, 30% 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. These were broadly split into those who felt one or more river grade should be decreased (27%); and those who felt one or more river grade should be increased (8%). In this context a decrease in grade would have been a call for good conservation status to be reassessed as moderate conservation status or for moderate conservation status to be reassessed as poor conservation status. For a requested increase in grade this could have been a request for poor conservation status to be reassessed as moderate conservation status or moderate conservation status to be reassessed as good conservation status.

A fifth of respondents (19%) made a plea for a mandatory catch and release regime to cover all of Scotland, 57% of those that suggested this had also asked for a decrease in one or more river gradings. Less than half of respondents (43%) raised concerns over the methodology used to calculate the conservation status of rivers.

Prominent issues raised included:

• data related concerns such as respondents raising issues with historically incorrect data or the assessment method in general (46%)
• catch related concerns such as respondents raising issues with missing catch data due to lower catch rates and/or individuals not submitting their catch return forms on time or at all (22%)
• requests for fish counter data to be used in addition to rod catch data in the assessment of river conservation statuses (16%)
• concern that the gradings do not accurately reflect the status of spring fish (8%)
• that rod effort on rivers should be considered in the assessment method (8%)
• environmental conditions such as low water levels reduced the number of catches or that flow data should be used within the assessment model (8%)

Six responses provided additional substantive evidence that required further review.

3.3 Views expressed on impacts of the proposed gradings on respondents

Over a fifth (22%) of respondents expressed concerns that they or their business would be financially or otherwise impacted due to the proposed river gradings. This was felt by 22% of those that identified themselves as organisations and 21% of those who identified as individuals. Over half (53%) of individuals indicated they would not experience any impacts compared to 50% of organisations that answered in the same way. The impacts raised were broadly defined under two main themes, income related concerns (30%) and angler related concerns (8%).

Prominent issues raised across these themes included that the proposed gradings would:

• have a wider economic impact on rural communities (24%)
• result in reduced income for businesses directly or indirectly associated with angling (24%)
• deter anglers from the sport and reduce tourism, which respondents were also concerned would lead to decreased angler presence on rivers (8%)
• result in areas being seen as not attractive to anglers as there is a perceived poor chance of catching salmon (5%)

3.4 Views of consultation respondents on the proposed amendment to reinstate the Annan early rod season

Over a third (38%) of respondents agreed with the proposed amendment to reinstate the Annan early rod season and the remainder did not express a specific view for or against the amendment.

3.5 Views expressed on impacts of the proposed amendment to reinstate the Annan early rod season on respondents

Respondents a mixture of views in relation to this question. Some detailed their views based on the proposed amendment moving forward, whereas others detailed their concerns should the amendment not be moved forward. For the purposes of analysis for this outcome report, these have been evaluated based on whether respondents deemed any impact would be felt either financially or otherwise.

A small proportion (11%) of respondents felt there would be an impact on them or their business due to the proposed Annan amendment. This was felt by 6% of those that identified themselves as organisations and 16% of those who identified as individuals. A greater proportion (68%) of individuals indicated they would not experience any impacts compared to 56% of organisations that answered in the same way. Over a quarter (27%) of respondents did not answer either question in relation to the financial or other impact of the Annan amendment.

In general, those who raised concerns about the Annan amendment appeared to do so in relation to the proposed amendment not being taken forward. Which they explained would potentially lead to reduced business and the subsequent impact that would have on the rural economy within the Annan district.

3.6 Views expressed on other actions to protect and restore wild salmon populations

Over a quarter (38%) of respondents expressed views urging actions should be focused on other pressures that they felt needed to be taken now in order to better protect salmon populations.

There were a number of pressures on wild salmon populations identified by respondents, these have been ranked by the percentage of total respondents who mentioned that pressure:

• preventing illegal fish poaching (22%)
• habitat degradation including issues associated with river barriers (14%)
• aquaculture activities (11%)
• climate change (11%)
• low water flows and abstraction (11%)
• low water quality and pollution (8%)

Furthermore, a number of actions were suggested by respondents to help protect and recover wild salmon populations. These are ranked by the percentage of the total respondents who mentioned these actions:

• taking an ecosystem wide approach to protect and preserve the wider environment (27%)
• close rivers to angling for set periods of time through adjusting angling season times (5%)

Finally, respondents were asked what further information they would have liked us to provide so that they could make an informed response to the proposed river grading consultation and Annan early rod season amendment. This highlighted that 22% of respondents wanted more specific data for their river or areas of interest. A further 16% of respondents wanted a specific plan to address the decline of wild salmon, and/or had indicated that knowing how the proposed river grading consultation connects with other Scottish Government policies would be useful. A small proportion (5%) of respondents felt that there should have been more explanation given as to why the Annan amendment had been proposed.