Landmark agreement secures local management of salmon fishing rights
The agreement will see Forth DSFB take on extra responsibility over salmon fishing rights across a large area of eastern Scotland.
The rights to fish for salmon and fish of the salmon kind are part of ancient rights held by The Crown in Scotland. In many areas these rights have been subsequently granted away by the Crown over the centuries. Those that remain are managed by Crown Estate Scotland.
Salmon fishing rights in Scotland are not always bound to the land where the fishings are located. Title can be held separately. So even where the shore or riverbank is privately owned, the salmon and sea trout fishing rights may lie with the Crown and be managed by us.
In category 3 rivers, as assessed by Marine Scotland, all salmon that are caught must be released again into the water. This has led to clubs in these areas losing fishermen, threatening the viability of clubs which have a vital role to play in monitoring and managing fishing.
For the 2016 season, we gave a 50% rebate for tenants on category 3 rivers and in 2017 and 2018 we gave a 25% discount. In recognition of the continuing pressures faced by the clubs, and to provide longer term additional support, from the 2019 season until the end of the 2021 fishing season all beats on category 3 rivers will see their rents rebated by 50% and all tenants on category 2 rivers will see their rents rebated by 25%.
We hope that these measures will continue to help and support angling clubs - we are pleased to have already received feedback from a number of angling association tenants that this action is appreciated.
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The agreement will see Forth DSFB take on extra responsibility over salmon fishing rights across a large area of eastern Scotland.
An agreement to maintain access for local anglers to one of Scotland’s most important salmon fishing locations is nearing completion.