Anglers furious at ‘reckless’ plan to extend net-catching

In an unprecedented move, the government has granted Angus-based Usan Salmon Fisheries the right to extend the season at its netting station near the mouth of the River Esk into September.

Furious local anglers, who  operate a catch and release policy to conserve stocks of wild  Atlantic salmon, condemned the decision, claiming the two-week extension to the coastal netting operation will lead to an additional 1,000 salmon being killed in each of the three years the extension will run.

The traditional netting season is due to end on 31 August. But Usan have been granted the right to net and kill salmon between 1 September and 14  September for the next three years. Hugh Campbell Adamson, chairman of the Esk District Salmon Board Fishery Board, claimed the government’s decision was completely contrary to internationally accepted conservation guidelines.

He said: “It beggars belief that the netting season is now being lengthened.”

Usan has been granted the two-week extension by Marine Scotland to compensate the fishery for disruption caused by scientists being allowed access to salmon caught by the coastal nets during the commercial fishery season. But Mr Campbell  Adamson said: “It makes no sense at all from a conservation perspective to permit any additional pressure on salmon stocks.”

He added: “Usan has been paid a generous £30,000 for its assistance in procuring 95 salmon for radio-tagging between February and April. The board’s offer to make a cash payment to Usan as compensation for the minor disruption caused by the tagging programme in May and June has been spurned by  Scottish Government.

“Instead, in a move that is recklessly irresponsible, it is  licensing Usan to kill up to 1,000 more salmon – with a potential gross value of some £50,000 – in exchange for tagging and releasing a mere 60 fish. In other locations, where netsmen provide salmon for scientific research purposes, they are simply reimbursed for the commercial value of the fish.

“The Scottish Government’s approach to salmon conservation is woefully inconsistent. It regularly exhorts fishery boards and anglers to reduce exploitation through catch and release. It beggars belief that the netting season is being lengthened”.

A Scottish Government spokesman defended the  decision. He said: “The Scottish Government is fully committed to salmon conservation and no license would be granted by us if there was evidence it would have a detrimental impact on stocks.

“The project represents a significant and unprecedented investment of public resources and effort into the river over a three year period. The results of the project will help inform local management of the South Esk fisheries and others fisheries further afield.”

George Pullar, director of Usan Salmon Fisheries, was unavailable.