Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01547 · Session 4

Conserving Scottish wild salmon

Closed Submitted 12 Dec 2014 Rural Affairs
Signatures
0
8,768 online signatures with a country
Comments
795
Considered
7 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

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.

What the petitioner did first

The Petitioner has been very heavily involved over many years with the Scottish Government in both formal and informal consultation in order to promote the conservation of early-running wild Atlantic salmon.
The Salmon & Trout Association (Scotland) gave very detailed evidence to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, both written and oral, during the passage of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Act 2013, to the Wild Fisheries Review (‘the Thin Review’) on how the conservation and management of Scottish wild salmon may be improved and in direct relation to the date to which exploitation of wild salmon should be prevented by Scottish Government under Annual Close Time Orders and Salmon Conservation Regulations.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 17 Feb 2015
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 4 Mar 2015
    Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
    Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
    1 mention
  3. 11 Mar 2015
    Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
    Public Petition
    1 mention
  4. 28 May 2015
    Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
    First Milk
    1 mention
  5. 3 Jun 2015
    Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention
  6. 9 Mar 2016
    Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention
  7. 30 Jun 2016
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

8,768 online signatures
  1. England2,885 32.9%
  2. Scotland2,433 27.7%
  3. United Kingdom1,288 14.7%
  4. Northern Ireland226 2.6%
  5. Ireland224 2.6%
  6. United States219 2.5%
  7. Germany184 2.1%
  8. France180 2.1%
  9. Wales180 2.1%
  10. Canada170 1.9%
  11. 61 other countries779 8.9%

Comments

795 comments, oldest first
795 comments · showing 1–50
  1. Bernd Vollnhofer 15 Dec 2014
    To my opinion this is an absolute must to do, as the population of Salmon in the last years shows a drastic decline. Considering all the factors contrbuting to this desaster, such as the polution of the oceans a.s.o. mankind must do everything which is in our hands to do, to preserve this wonderful part of nature.
  2. Paul McMonagle 15 Dec 2014
    Signed Ian, thanks
  3. Alex Barclay 15 Dec 2014
    It is about time this Listening Government actually listened to the people who know what is happening to our stocks and really care about our fish, keep up the good work and thank you Ian.
  4. Andy Richardson 15 Dec 2014
    Well done Ian. Keep up the good fight!
  5. Stevie Munn 15 Dec 2014
    Very important we don't lose this fish in the wild .
  6. Andrew Hogg 15 Dec 2014
    For the sake of our last remaining salmon stocks please act now when you still can. It's not too late yet but given time and the continuation of current practices it will soon be too late.
  7. tom wallace 15 Dec 2014
    Salmon stocks must be conserved and I agree the govt must go a step further to protect a fragile species
  8. Donnie Whiteford 15 Dec 2014
    1st of April is "a start" but 1st July would be a big step forward.
  9. John Richardson 15 Dec 2014
    keep up the good work about time something trying to get done.
  10. Graeme Taylor, Aberdeen, SCotland 15 Dec 2014
    Keep up the fight Ian!
  11. Craig wyness 15 Dec 2014
    As long as the nets are included I'm in
  12. Jock Monteith 15 Dec 2014
    It is a national disgrace that wild Atlantic salmon stock levels have been allowed to reduce to this level through gross mismanagement and commercial exploitation. We need to also fully back Orri Vigfusson at the NASF as his organisation is the only main reason in my opinion that there are any wild Atlantic salmon worth pursuing in the northern hemisphere at all these days. There are also very dangerous commercial netting threats currently reoccurring at the Greenland feeding grounds which requires URGENT addressing or it will be game over. For an industry that attracts £150 million per annum to Scotland from salmon angling alone it is truly remarkable that there has been such a lack of effective long term conservation management of the species. Tough conservation policies and effective ocean policing with the buying off of all commercial netting ventures from the feeding grounds to the river estuaries is what is required NOW and making it law that no salmon can be killed. This could easily (after 3 x 5 year cycles have passed) turn the industry into a 1 £billion annual revenue stream to Scotland with all the positive economic effects that goes with that kind of upswing and subsequent global angler recognition & demand.
  13. Jonathan Mackereth 15 Dec 2014
    we really do need to do everything we can to protect these salmon. They have given so many people so much over the years, it's time we gave something back.
  14. Artur Furdyna, TPRIIG 15 Dec 2014
    Without good conservation of wild population the end will be like with polish salmon, we,ve lost in 80-ties.
  15. Paul Stevenson 15 Dec 2014
    Gd coz keep up the gd work
  16. paul smith 15 Dec 2014
    We're all behind you keep up the fight.
  17. graham hamilton 15 Dec 2014
    Signed and shared
  18. Craig Fleming 15 Dec 2014
    We need to do all we can to save the runs of native wild Atlantic salmon.
  19. William Stuart 15 Dec 2014
    This needs to be done now not in a years time it needs to be done now .
  20. brian arnold 15 Dec 2014
    the main spring run arrives in may on the deveron, the present measure doesn't go far enough.
  21. Ken Reid 15 Dec 2014
    Delighted to support your efforts petitioning Scottish Government to do more to protect our migratory salmonids. Internationally the Scottish Governments stance in supporting interceptors netting has seen us become the catalyst to encourage Greenland to increase their quotas in exploiting salmon. There is more than enough salmon produced through aquaculture to satisfy demands for salmon. Coastal netting must be and should be abolished as there are no controls on their exploitation.
  22. Giles Chapman 15 Dec 2014
    It is a sad state of affairs when Russia is doing more for Salmon conservation than Scotland.
  23. Nick Hill 15 Dec 2014
    Well done,shame governments don't do joined up thinking !
  24. Sean Mcgarry 15 Dec 2014
    vital and inspirational stance Ian. Let's hope we can be heard as one voice and take the steps required to protect this beautiful and beloved creature.
  25. M.R.Oldfield 15 Dec 2014
    as over 90% of our salmon die at sea, shouldn't most of our efforts be concentrated there? However this is a good start.
  26. constantine carton 15 Dec 2014
    good work ian
  27. Melville McDonald 15 Dec 2014
    Whilst recent efforts by Scottish Government to provide more protection for early running spring salmon are to be applauded, the proposals do not go nearly far enough to protect what is quickly becoming an endangered species. This species of salmon provides a huge amount of income to the Scottish Economy and it needs further protection to ensure its sustainability for future generations.
  28. brian finlay 15 Dec 2014
    keep up the good work
  29. Munro reid 15 Dec 2014
    Something seriously has to be done. The Scottish government should rise to the challenge.
  30. Stephen Brennan 15 Dec 2014
    Drastic measures maybe but shows anglers commitment to preservation of the species
  31. Harris Reid 15 Dec 2014
    Save these fish for the sake of future generations.
  32. Ian Neale 15 Dec 2014
    Great job Ian. It's a start in the right direction for the survival of our salmon.
  33. Gordon Mackenzie 15 Dec 2014
    All early running salmon need protection.
  34. Steven black 15 Dec 2014
    i would totally agree with donnie whiteford
  35. jondi laurence O Byrne 15 Dec 2014
    Save our salmon
  36. Kenny Carr 15 Dec 2014
    Good luck with this, and hopefully will help what remains of the salmon stock.
    Hope this applies to the nets too, or this is a worthless exercise.
  37. robert moffett 15 Dec 2014
    A total catch and release is the way to go
  38. Fabrice Bergues 15 Dec 2014
    Very well done!!!
  39. Pierre noel 15 Dec 2014
    For the fly fisherman, you also must stop killing salmon. I signed this last year only to see some of you posting your trophies on Facebook.
  40. alan mooney 15 Dec 2014
    Good work Ian, maybe the fight against lousy salmon farms worth a go as this is a major factor. Wont hold much hope on that though
  41. Jonathan Jones 15 Dec 2014
    This doesnt just affect scotlant as many of the fish netted will be heading to rivers further south. The scots goverment already supports the salmon farming industry, look what chaos that has brought to the west coast with the extinction of many salmon and seatrout runs. Does the same body want to be responsible for doing the same to the rest of scotland and many more rivers further south.
  42. Tony Black 15 Dec 2014
    1st of July will be better to help save a few early summer fish as well...
  43. Bill Green 15 Dec 2014
    Well done Ian
  44. Gordon Pollock 15 Dec 2014
    the salmon need all our help right now it should really be C&R 100% all year round
  45. Michelle tucker-Vincent 15 Dec 2014
    You've got this far Ian keep going. We need to protect these wonderful fish.
  46. Robert D McKenzie 15 Dec 2014
    We simply cannot allow the decline of Atlantic
    Salmon to be the result of preventable human
    over-harvest.
    And we must use every conceivable resource to
    protect their future existence
  47. Sebastian Kracht 15 Dec 2014
    Keep still fighting Ian!!!
  48. Steven Mackenzie 15 Dec 2014
    Most springers come after 1st April now so 15th June would be a target to aim for. Well done Ian. Steven
  49. adrian brown 15 Dec 2014
    signed
  50. Andrew McRobbie 15 Dec 2014
    its about time something was done to get the salmon numbers back up. Well done Ian keep up the good work.