Written Question · S3W-38559 · Session 3
What its position is on mixed stock fisheries and what impact such fisheries have on individual river stocks.
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on mixed stock fisheries and what impact such fisheries have on individual river stocks.
The answer
The Scottish Government has its approach to mixed stock fisheries under consideration in the light of the report of the Mixed Stock Salmon Fisheries Working Group published last year. A copy of the report can be found on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/03/31154416/0.
The accepted international definition of a mixed stock fishery (MSF) for wild Atlantic salmon is a fishery exploiting a significant number of salmon from two or more river stocks. While fisheries by any method inside estuaries may be MSFs, those located outside estuaries are almost certainly MSFs.
In 2009, the annual catch of the coastal fixed engine net fisheries was the lowest since records began in 1952, and was 3% of the maximum reported catch. Reported effort in the fixed engine net fisheries was also the lowest on record at 3% of the maximum reported.
All salmon fisheries in Scotland are operated under private heritable titles. All those with a legal right to fish have the ability to exercise that right in accordance with the law, including the provisions for conservation measures in the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.
The accepted international definition of a mixed stock fishery (MSF) for wild Atlantic salmon is a fishery exploiting a significant number of salmon from two or more river stocks. While fisheries by any method inside estuaries may be MSFs, those located outside estuaries are almost certainly MSFs.
In 2009, the annual catch of the coastal fixed engine net fisheries was the lowest since records began in 1952, and was 3% of the maximum reported catch. Reported effort in the fixed engine net fisheries was also the lowest on record at 3% of the maximum reported.
All salmon fisheries in Scotland are operated under private heritable titles. All those with a legal right to fish have the ability to exercise that right in accordance with the law, including the provisions for conservation measures in the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-38559 by reference.