New fishing code as salmon season begins on the Tay

Anglers are being urged to throw back the salmon

Anglers on the River Tay are being asked to free every salmon they catch in an effort to conserve stocks.

The advice has come from the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board on the opening day of the 2010 angling season.

The board has said that no salmon should be killed before June and afterwards anglers must limit themselves to one male salmon a day.

The policy brings the restrictions on the Tay closer to those already in place on the River Dee.

On that river 98% of salmon are returned to the water to allow them to continue upstream to spawn.

James Cook Scotland correspondent The stunning setting hides a problem. The number of spring salmon returning to the river is said to be in decline. That means asking fishermen to put back every salmon they catch from now until the summer. Efforts to halt salmon decline

The start of the salmon fishing season on the River Tay is always a cause for celebration amongst anglers.

But this year's event has been overshadowed by real concerns about dwindling fish stocks.

Until now anglers have been asked to follow a voluntary code to release the first salmon they catch each day and to only retain one fish in two.

The Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board believes radical conservation measures are required to let more salmon to return to the river.

A spokesman said: "As catch and release is now well accepted by the majority of anglers fishing the Tay - 75% of spring salmon caught in 2008 were released - the board hopes that all anglers will make the extra effort to help ensure both the salmon and their sport have a sustainable future."

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