Petitioner: Ian Gordon and the Salmon and Trout Association (Scotland)
Status:
Closed
Date Lodged:
26 January 2015
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government
(i) in the interests of salmon conservation, and on a precautionary basis, to request Scottish Ministers to use their powers immediately under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 Act to ensure that no Atlantic salmon are killed in Scotland for a period of five years from 2015 if possible, by 2016 if not - by either nets or rods - before 1st July; and
(ii) in the case of fishing for salmon by coastal netting, to take such steps as are necessary to bring to an end the exploitation of wild salmon by Mixed Stock Fisheries at any time of year, in line with Scotland’s international commitments and obligations.
Ian Gordon and the Salmon and & Trout Association (Scotland) are asking the Scottish Government to stop the exploitation of salmon before 1st July in response to very poor runs of salmon into Scottish rivers, particularly in 2013 and 2014.
The evidence from angling catches, in-river and coastal netting catches and fish counters across most of Scotland shows 2014 to have been a very poor year indeed. The poor runs in 2014 follow very sparse runs in 2013. The low numbers of salmon reflect poor marine survival for the second year running. In the circumstances it is vital that as many as possible of those salmon that do manage successfully to return from the ocean are able to spawn successfully.
This must apply to both netting and angling.