River Nith Conservation policy and River Status – Season 2018

At its most recent meeting of the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board (NDSFB) the subject of the conservation status of the salmon stocks within the Nith catchment was discussed.  The Scottish Government have provisionally assigned the river with Category 1 status upstream from a line drawn across the river at Airds Point on the west shore of the estuary to the Scar Point on the east shore.

Downstream of this line the status of Category 3 is maintained, the consequence of which is that in these net fisheries any salmon captured have to be returned alive.

These days, the Fishery Board, anglers and net fishermen alike are acutely aware of the importance of conservation of salmon and have in recent years been active in adopting and promoting the practice of live release of all captured salmon.

Under all circumstances and notwithstanding the Government categorisation of the river system, the Board continues to promote as part of its salmon conservation policy the release of all salmon caught by any method in the river system and urges fishery proprietors, anglers and netsmen to respect and adopt the Board’s policy in attempting to achieve highest possible catch and release statistics for salmon in the Nith System.

Ian Griffin – Friars Carse 17lb salmon on the Riding Stones Pool