Wild salmon strategy: implementation plan 2023 to 2028

Actions

1. Improving the condition of rivers and giving salmon free access to cold, clean water.

Water Quality and Quantity

1.1 Improvements will be made to 40 wastewater treatment works to address water quality issues [By 2027] (SEPA – Scottish Water)

1.2 Improvements will be made to 24 unsatisfactory intermittent sewage discharges to address water quality issues [By 2027] (SEPA – Scottish Water)

1.3 Improvement actions will be identified that prevent deterioration of water bodies in close proximity to forestry and logging activities [By 2027] (SEPA – Forestry operators)

1.4 Work with farms and land managers in 57 priority catchments to ensure compliance with regulatory standards [By 2027] (SEPA– Land managers)

1.5 Effective regulation and management will be used to prevent water bodies deteriorating from good to less than good [By 2027] (SEPA – Land owners/managers, Industry)

1.6 Develop a strategic approach to water scarcity based on the lessons learnt [ongoing] (SEPA)

1.7 To deliver improvements as required in flows and levels impacted by hydropower schemes by reviewing licences [By 2027] (SEPA – Hydropower operators)

River habitat and water temperature

1.8 Develop and implement an integrated approach to riparian management to improve the climate resilience of rivers, water quality, river morphology, and the availability of habitat networks [By 2025] (Scottish Forestry - Scottish Government, SEPA, NatureScot, Forest Research)

1.9 Enhance the Forestry Grant Scheme to deliver better community engagement, improved biodiversity and increased value for money, including improved support for tree planting around rivers and streams [By 2023] (Scottish Forestry)

1.10 Aid the recovery of salmon habitat through peatland restoration to improve water quality and reduce particulate organic carbon as part of the Scottish Government's Peatland Restoration Programme [By 2030] (NatureScot – Scottish Government)

1.11 Minimise conflict between salmon recovery and beavers through a considered and dynamic approach to beaver translocations, including the development of support for management, mitigation and research within the context of Scotland's Beaver Strategy 2022 – 2045 [ongoing] (NatureScot – Scottish Beaver Advisory Group)

1.12 Expand our Protected Areas to at least 30% of the land surface and improve their condition, ensuring that they contribute to the ecological functioning of river catchments that support salmon [by 2030] (NatureScot)

Barriers to Migration

1.13 Easement or removal of 84 active barriers (including those that support hydropower, public water supply and distilleries) to allow fish migration [By 2027] (SEPA – Hydropower operators, public water supply companies, distilleries)

1.14 Easement or removal of 94 historic barriers (including redundant weirs associated with historical industrial activity) to allow fish migration [By 2027] (SEPA – DSFBs and Trusts, local authorities, landowners)

1.15 Undertake a review of 66 barriers not covered by an impoundment licence under CAR (including bridges and culverts owned by local authorities and others) to ensure they allow fish passage [By 2027] (SEPA – Transport Scotland, Network Rail, Local Authorities)

1.16 In the above barrier related work, secondary impacts on salmon (such as predation and poaching), will be considered by engagement with stakeholders and in project planning and implementation [By 2027] (SEPA)

1.17 Undertake a review of the risk to fish migration of the canal network and associated management structures [By 2025] (Scottish Canals – DSFBs and Trusts, SEPA, NatureScot)

Predation

1.18 Continue to administer wildlife licencing for specific purposes relating to predator conflicts with wild salmon under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 [ongoing] (NatureScot, Scottish Government)

1.19 Undertake a review of fish eating bird licencing policy with a view to ensuring balanced consideration of the conservation status of predator and prey species, within the context of a wider review of the approach to wildlife licencing. This will be underpinned by research to improve the scientific evidence base, including the collection of bird population data, improved understanding of their impact on salmon populations and the effectiveness of control methods [By 2023] (NatureScot – Scottish Government, DSFBs and Trusts, research institutes)

1.20 Complete a review of the operation of the seal licensing system under the terms of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 [by 2025] (Scottish Government)

1.21 Support efforts by fisheries managers to protect salmon from seal predation by continuing to investigate, develop and test non-lethal methods of control, thereby improving our understanding of the effectiveness of these measures [By 2024] (Scottish Government)

Invasive non-native species

1.22 Implement Scottish Plan for INNS surveillance, prevention and control, and secure wider support measures to enable effective INNS removal for species that may impact salmon and its supporting habitat [ongoing] (NatureScot, SEPA – Scottish Government, FMS, Fishery trusts)

1.23 Develop and improve monitoring and mitigation strategies for future invasions of pink salmon [ongoing] (SEPA, NatureScot - FMS, Scottish Government)

1.24 Promote public awareness campaigns on avoiding the spread of invasive non-native species, including biosecurity and disinfectant measures such as 'Check, Clean, Dry' [By 2023] (All water users)

Disease

1.25 Establish a new task and finish group focussing on wild fish disease to investigate the research gaps, prevent introduction and spread of disease, and increase public awareness of biosecurity [By 2023] (Scottish Government)

1.26 Update the Gyrodactylus salaris Contingency Plan to ensure Scotland is prepared in the event of an outbreak [2023] (Scottish Government)

Stocking

1.27 Publish research on the risks and opportunities of stocking, complete a review of the current stocking policy and adopt a revised stocking policy [By 2023] (Scottish Government)

2. Managing exploitation through effective regulation, deterrents and enforcement

2.1 Revise and apply the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016 annually based on stock assessment data [annually] (Scottish Government)

2.2 Maintain the prohibition of the retention of salmon in coastal waters until such a time as the conservation status of salmon allows for the consideration of removing this measure [ongoing] (Scottish Government)

2.3 Review The Conservation of Salmon (Annual Close Time and Catch and Release) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 and The Tweed Regulation Order 2007 to ensure the protection of vulnerable stock components [By 2024] (Scottish Government - DSFBs)

2.4 Undertake a review of enforcement powers, the offences and penalty regime for salmon poaching (a wildlife crime) and other offences, aiming to increase penalties if necessary [By 2024] (Scottish Government)

2.5 Continue the current policy that all prospective water bailiffs must successfully complete specific training delivered by Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) and FMS before appointment as a water bailiff [ongoing] (Scottish Government, FMS, IFM, DSFBs)

2.6 Refresh and promote guidance on best practice for catch and release [By 2023] (All stakeholders)

3. Understanding and mitigating pressures in the marine and coastal environment

3.1 Safeguard salmon and critical habitat through National, Regional and Sectoral Marine Plan policies and licensing of marine activity and development, recognising its protected status [ongoing] (Scottish Government, NatureScot)

3.2 Improve our understanding of the coastal and marine migration patterns of salmon through collaborative research projects [ongoing] (Scottish Government, all)

3.3 Develop and undertake a coordinated approach to research projects through ScotMER^[2] to improve our understanding of the potential impacts of marine renewable developments on salmon [ongoing] (Scottish Government)

3.4 Protecting and enhancing marine biodiversity, including salmon and the habitats they depend on, through a well-managed network of Marine Protected Areas, Highly Protected Marine Areas and other conservation measures, and implementing the UK Marine Strategy to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status [2026] (Scottish Government, NatureScot)

3.5 Implement the actions set out in our response to the recommendations of the Salmon Interactions Working Group to mitigate the risks and impact of fish farming on wild salmon [ongoing] (Scottish Government, Industry)

3.6 Continued development and phased implementation of the risk assessment framework for managing the interaction between sea lice from marine fish farm developments and wild salmon and sea trout in Scotland [ongoing] (SEPA)

3.7 Strengthen controls to reduce farmed fish escapes and explore the introduction of penalties with the ultimate aim of redistributing this money to support salmon conservation and research [ongoing] (Scottish Government)

3.8 Restrict fishing activity or prohibit fishing for species which are integral components of the marine food web, such as sandeels [ongoing] (Scottish Government)

3.9 Apply the National Planning Framework 4 policy to not support further salmon and trout open pen fish farm developments on the north and east coasts of Scotland to safeguard migratory fish species [ongoing] (Planning Authorities)

4. Making a positive contribution through international collaborations

4.1 Continue to play an active role in the effective functioning of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) and the development and implementation of NASCO resolutions, agreements and guidelines, including by chairing the North-East Atlantic Commission (2023-24) [ongoing] (Scottish Government)

4.2 Report on the implementation of NASCO's Resolutions, Agreements and Guidelines through Annual Progress Reports [annually] (Scottish Government)

4.3 Work with partners through NASCO to maintain an evidence-based and precautionary regulatory measure for the West Greenland salmon fishery and advocate for international cooperation on other pressures on salmon as appropriate [annually] (Scottish Government)

4.4 Participate in the West Greenland sampling programme through the provision of samplers in coordination with the UK NASCO delegation [ongoing] (Scottish Government)

4.5 Promote collaboration and cooperation on research into the causes of marine mortality of salmon through active participation in the International Salmon Research Board [ongoing] (Scottish Government)

4.6 Contribute to the preparation of an annual assessment of the status of salmon stocks across the North Atlantic and other advice by the ICES Working Group on North Atlantic Salmon [annually] (Scottish Government)

4.7 Contributing to monitoring and surveillance activities, information exchange and development of recommendations to prevent the spread of parasites and invasive non-native species (e.g. as part of NASCO North East Atlantic Commission G. salaris and future pink salmon working groups) [annually] (Scottish Government)

4.8 Acting on and reporting implementation of OSPAR Recommendation 2016/3^[3] on furthering the protection of Atlantic salmon in the North-East Atlantic [by 2025] (Scottish Government)

5. Developing a modernised and fit for purpose policy framework

5.1 Establish a task and finish group of stakeholders to undertake a broad review of the current policy framework [2023] (Scottish Government)

The aim of the group will be:

• to make recommendations aimed at improving the protection of salmon, and enhancing the environmental, economic, and social benefits arising from it.
• to examine new ways in which we can better support and resource local management.
• to explore new means of making investments in Scotland's rivers, including investigating private sector contributions in line with Scottish Governments commitment to develop a high integrity, values-led market for responsible investment in natural capital.