How it collects the figures from anglers for the number of salmon caught and released or killed each year.

Salmon and sea trout fishery statistics are obtained from returns made in response to an annual questionnaire sent to the proprietors or occupiers of all known salmon and sea trout fisheries under the provisions of section 64 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003. Currently each fishery is required to provide the numbers and total weights of both wild and farmed salmon and grilse caught and retained in each month of the fishing season. In addition, rod and line fisheries are currently required to provide the monthly numbers and total weights of those salmon and grilse which were caught then released back into the river (catch and release). Marine Scotland Science has produced a topic sheet which describes how the annual survey of salmon and sea trout fisheries is carried out. Topic Sheet 67 Collecting the Marine Scotland Salmon and Sea Trout Fishery Statistics may be downloaded at: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00475539.pdf