Conservationists criticised salmon net fisherman yesterday for scrapping a long-running voluntary code to delay the opening of their season.
The Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland (SNFAS) voted earlier this month to no longer adhere to an agreement entered into 14 years ago to postpone the start of the netting season from mid-February by six weeks.
The Salmon and Trout Association Scotland (STAS) said the decision threatened early-running spring salmon, the most vulnerable of wild salmon stocks.
There are heritable netting rights across the Highlands, including at Thurso, Halladale in Sutherland, Avoch and Berriedale.
STAS chairman Hughie Campbell Adamson, said: “For years SNFAS has milked the six-week delay to the netting season as evidence of its members’ conservation credentials. The intention to start earlier shows that the netsmen are determined to kill a proportion of the scarcest, most vulnerable and indeed most valuable of our salmon runs.
“For many years rod interests have given maximum protection to these fish and now virtually none are killed by anglers in the early weeks of the season. In fact most rivers operate 100% catch and release until May or even later. Netsmen, like anglers, have the right to kill fish.
“This backward decision reflects the failure of netsmen, unlike anglers, to recognise that these early runs must be protected.”
He urged Scottish Ministers to use their legal powers to prevent the “wholesale killing” of fish before they reach rivers.
SNFAS secretary Keith Allen said members decided to end the voluntary code as the association felt its conservation measures were not being met by anglers.
He claimed STAS were “jumping the gun” with their criticism as the association planned to write to the government and inform them they were willing to enter talks with district salmon fishery boards about the possibility of compensation being paid to netsmen to start the season later.
He said: “Why should we be doing this when anglers don’t do anything of worth? We are using it as a way to stimulate discussion with district boards to come to an agreement that is good for everybody and good for the salmon themselves. This battle that has gone on for years between anglers and netsmen could be sorted once and for all.”
He claimed several scientific studies showed catch and release can damage fish.
Chairwoman of the Nairn District Salmon Fisheries Board, Rosie Macrae, said: “I think it would be a great shame if they started netting again because they take huge amounts of salmon. Our policy is to catch and release as much as possible.”