In Scotland the right to fish for salmon is a property right. If you do not hold it, you need written permission from someone who does. The law is in the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003, and it is enforced locally by district salmon fishery boards and their water bailiffs, with the police.
England and Wales run a licence system through the Environment Agency, so a licence from there does not help you in Scotland. See the Meet your aquaculture and freshwater fishing duties guide for the position in England and Wales.
What each role needs
Salmon fishing in Scotland: what each role needs
The legal position for the main kinds of business involved.
| If you are | What you need | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| A fishery owner or proprietor | You hold the right. Give permission in writing, and follow the methods and close times | Not removing boats and nets within 36 hours of the annual close time starting |
| A business that lets beats or runs angling breaks on someone else's water | Written permission from the proprietor for you and your clients, for each season | Clients fishing without written permission, or using a method that is not permitted |
| A guide, ghillie or instructor | Written permission for the water you work on, and knowledge of the methods, close times and conservation rules | Letting a client retain a salmon that must be returned |
| A seller of salmon | Salmon that was caught lawfully. Buying, selling or possessing salmon taken in the close time is an offence unless it was caught lawfully | Being unable to show where and when a fish was caught |
The rules
Each season
- Renew permissions in writing for the water, the dates and each person or business covered.
- Check the river's conservation status for the season. Salmon caught in the coastal waters of a salmon fishery district, and in the inland waters listed in Schedule 2 to the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016 as amended (the rivers the Scottish Government grades as poor), must be returned at once. Briefing clients before they fish avoids an offence by the person who retains a fish and a problem for you as the business.
- Check your district's annual close time and any rod-and-line periods inside it. They differ from district to district.
- Brief every client and member of staff on the permitted method, the single-rod rule from the bank, the ban on live vertebrates, fish roe, fire and light as bait, and the weekly close time.
- Keep records of who fished, where, when and with whose permission, so that you can show your district board or a bailiff.
If the River Tweed is involved
The River Tweed has its own legislation and its own commission. Check with the River Tweed Commission which rules apply before you fish or let fishing on the Tweed.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Read it on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.uk