Protecting and Promoting Scotland's Freshwater Fish and Fisheries

7 Conclusions

7.1 This document reviews: the fish resource in Scotland, existing conservation mechanisms, threats to the sustainability of the fisheries, the availability of fishing opportunities and the scope for broadening access to fishing, and the structures in place to manage the fisheries. The following important points have emerged:

• The natural fish fauna of Scotland comprises relatively few species. However, the number of species has been doubled by the introduction of fish from elsewhere in Great Britain, from Europe and from North America. Introductions of fish and other animals, are matters of particular concern. Some of these introductions have been of little consequence, some introductions of fish have been of benefit in that they have provided new fishing opportunities, but some have caused problems for Scotland's native species.
• A range of conservation mechanisms underpinned by both domestic and European legislation is in place to protect Scotland's fish species and the habitats upon which they depend. Success depends, however, not only on the existence of this legislative framework but also on the acceptance of the need for conservation and the cooperation of the users of the resources to develop more and better mechanisms.
• Notwithstanding the existence of these conservation mechanisms, the fish and their environment remain under threat from a number of factors, many of which are a result of Man's activities. Awareness of the impacts of such activities is increasing but there is still much progress to be made in developing an holistic approach to the management of the freshwater resource and the fish that depend on it.
• Despite declines in recent years, Scotland's salmon resource and the fishery it supports remains of international importance. Catches of sea trout have also declined, particularly in the west and north west of the country. Nevertheless, important fisheries for sea trout still attract many anglers. The size of the fishery for brown trout is much more difficult to determine, but it is clear that it involves many thousands of anglers. Put-and-take fisheries, particularly for rainbow trout have been established in many places and new fisheries continue to be developed. The demand for coarse fishing is increasing. Coarse anglers face a particular problem because the usual methods adopted are often unlawful.
• Access to fishing is constrained by the private nature of fishing rights. There is clearly an argument for widening access, but only where this can be done in a way that does not compromise the conservation status of the fish. After all, there can be no fishery without fish. Broadening the availability of fishing opportunities by the further development of put-and-take fisheries for rainbow trout and coarse fisheries may attract more young anglers to the sport, and may help to relieve some of the pressures on wild stocks of salmon and trout. However, fisheries must be managed so that measures are introduced to minimise the problems that may arise from the introduction and transfer of fish.
• There is a well-defined structure for the management of salmon fisheries on a river-by-river basis by DSFBs that has been in place for over a century. However, not every district has a DSFB. No analogous system exists for the management of fisheries for trout and other freshwater fish. In the thirteen areas where Protection Orders have been made, their operation is supervised by Liaison Committees representing those who own and operate the fisheries and the anglers who fish them.

7.2 SERAD and SNH hope that the issues explored in this paper will form the foundation for a dialogue with all water users about how best to protect and promote Scotland's freshwater fish and fisheries for the future.