Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Liz Smith, has hit out at a decision to return the River Earn to category 3 status, which results in a large number of fish being thrown back, and has called on the Scottish Government to investigate the data behind this move.
In a letter to Roseanna Cunningham MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Liz has made the case against reclassification and has called for its reversal.
Local angling clubs are dismayed by the re-categorisation as they feel it has been founded on incomplete data sets using the now discredited rod catch criterion.
Re-classifying the Earn could result in a significant blow to the local economy with tourists travelling from across Scotland to fish in its waters.
Commenting Liz Smith MSP said;
“Anglers on the River Earn endured this process two years ago, only for the river to retain category 2 status, and are tired of the constant battles to maintain normal fishing rights on the river.
“I have written to the Cabinet Secretary to intervene and to investigate concerns that the data used to re-categorise the river is incomplete and flawed.
“Any move to change the river’s status will have huge implications for the local economy and the Cabinet Secretary must take this into account as well as the fishing data.”