Shrimp and Prawn Ban
River Tay Salmon District
(Baits and Lures) Regulations 1999
As of the 1st March 1999 the use of shrimp
and prawn baits has been banned by the Secretary
of State throughout the Tay District Salmon
Fisheries Board area (River Tay and all tributaries
and lochs). This includes the use of natural
prawns and shrimps (whether freash or preserved,
dyed or natural colour).
Following the mostly successful removal of
high seas, estuary and riverine nets responsibility
for the preservation of salmon stocks is now
largely in the hands of rod and line anglers.
On the Tay system nets now account for less
than 60 salmon per annum - an insignificant
total when compared with rod catches. With
the exception of the English North East Drift
nets which continue to infuriate, fishing
pressure has been dramatically reduced.
Rod anglers already restrict their practices
in order to preserve stocks:
-
No salmon fishing is allowed on Sundays
-
Only a single rod and line is allowed
-
Set lines are forbidden
-
All kelts and baggots must be returned
-
There is a voluntary catch
and release scheme and badges
are on offer.
-
Many beats are fly only
Nevetheless it is up to anglers to continue
to play the lead role in looking after our
sport. Many rods are already looking abroad
for their fishing because of the scarcity
of Scottish salmon. Unless we have a healthy
salmon stock the angling/tourist industry
will suffer and jobs will continue to be lost.
The argument that rods will not fish if they
cannot use the shrimp and prawn does not add
up. This argument was no doubt used by the
guns when the last dodo was shot! If an angler
is only there to kill fish then he would be
better advised to go to a put and take fishery
where results are guaranteed. Alternatively
farmed salmon can be bought for £1.40
lb and with wild fish estimated to be valued
at over £1000 a piece it makes economic
sense to preserve them.
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