As Alex Samond prepares to open the Tay salmon fishing season, Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has questioned the Scottish Government’s current action on the netting of wild Spring salmon.
Anglers voluntarily return all Spring salmon caught in the period up to the first of June, but some have voiced displeasure at Alex Salmond’s opening of the Tay due to his Government’s inaction on netting salmon.
Since 1999 anglers and netsman have voluntarily stopped killing early running Spring salmon, however the Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland have announced that they are to disband this practice and begin killing salmon from mid-February.
Only Scottish Ministers have the legal power to prevent this under the terms of the Salmon Act of 2003, yet their only intervention thus far is to encourage discussion between the two sides.
In 2003 “Salmon Angling” was found to be worth £74 Million to the Scottish economy, supporting 2800 full time jobs.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Wild Spring Salmon stocks are still dangerously low and if they are ever to recover, this will require greater action on the part of the Scottish Government.
“In opening the Tay salmon fishing season I would hope that Alex Salmond would take time to listen to the concerns of anglers who are rightfully worried about the future of wild salmon fishing.
“The Scottish Government have previously said that it would only support the netting of wild salmon if a harvestable surplus occurs, but this has yet to happen. We need greater engagement from Scottish Government Ministers on this issue.”