Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Conservation of Salmon (Annual Close Time and Catch and Release) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (“the 2014 Regulations”) and the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (“the 2016 Regulations”).

The 2014 Regulations prescribe the annual close time for each salmon fishery district in Scotland (with the exception of the Tweed District) and the period within that annual close time when it is permitted to fish for and take, and fish for, salmon by rod and line. The 2014 Regulations also prohibit the retention of any salmon which are caught during the periods specified in column 4 of the schedule (“catch and release periods”).

Regulation 2 amends the 2014 Regulations to introduce a catch and release period from 25th February to 31st March for the Annan Salmon Fishery District.

The 2016 Regulations make provision for regulating the killing of salmon in specified areas.

Regulation 3 substitutes schedule 2 (inland waters prohibitation on retaining salmon) of the 2016 Regulations, which describes the areas of inland waters where there is a prohibition on the retention of any salmon caught. Changes are made to the following paragraphs of schedule 2: 20, 22, 25, 34, 47, 55, 66, 76, 77, 95 and 105.