LOSSIE DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD 2026 CONSERVATION CODE
New Legislation and Conservation Limits
Following extensive consultation by Scottish Government the killing of Atlantic salmon in inland waters will be managed on an annual basis by categorising fishery districts by their conservation status.
The approach uses catch data to determine if the numbers of adult salmon returning to the river are sufficient to maintain adequate spawning and egg deposition and ultimately smolt output.
Catch data from five years is used and each river in Scotland is Graded good to poor. Good indicates the river has met its conservation limit while Poor means it has fallen below the limit.
Rivers graded Poor require to move to 100% catch and release for salmon and grilse and all rivers must prepare a conservation Plan to safeguard salmon stocks in the future.
The Lossie is Poor.
The Salmon Conservation Regulations which come into effect on 1 April 2016 make it a criminal offence to kill any salmon within the Lossie district. Further details can be found here.
In December 2023 Atlantic salmon were reclassified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Endangered’ in Great Britain. Given the evidence of declining stocks of both Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout, Fisheries Management Scotland recommends a catch and release policy of 100% for both species, the LDSFB are in agreement with this policy and has therefore updated the conservation code to reflect that there should be no deliberate killing of Sea Trout until such time as the balance of scientific evidence suggests that populations are stable and recovering. The LDSFB already has a policy of no deliberate killing of Atlantic Salmon.
Salmon Conservation Policy
All Salmon and Grilse must be released back to the river.
Sea Trout Conservation Policy
All Sea Trout and Finnock must be released back to the river.
METHODS
- Fly fishing is encouraged.
- Use pinched or barbless hooks. Avoid using triple hooks.
- Shrimp and prawning is banned.
- Bait fishing (worming) may be used with the AA or owner’s permission.
Season: 25th Feb – 31st Oct However, many of the fishing estates and Angling Associations vary the season length within this. Elgin and District Angling Association (EDAA) delays the opening on their fishing until the 1st April for salmon and sea trout and closes the season for sea trout on the 30th September. They close the salmon season on the 31st October.
For more information on catch and release, visit our How You Can Help page here.