It is a great sadness to report that Usan Salmon Fisheries have acquired the netting rights in the the Ythan estuary. It is incomprehensible that Scotland is actually increasing its netting efforts for wild salmon. The value of the salmon as a game fish to Scotland outweighs the value of the fish as a food source many hundreds of times over. It is quite a claim made in the Press Release that limited netting will be carried out to fulfil ‘our management role.’  The potential ramifications due to the expansion of netting activity in Scotland are horrific. 

Press Release – Scottish Wild Salmon Company Acquires Ythan Estuary Salmon Angling And Salmon Netting

Scottish Wild Salmon Company (Usan Salmon Fisheries Ltd) has today announced it has acquired angling and salmon netting rights in the Ythan estuary and adjacent foreshore.

Commenting, George Pullar, director said “We are absolutely delighted to have acquired these splendid sea trout and salmon fishing rights. Given our long association with wild salmon and sea trout in Scotland, we look forward to managing these long-established rights, in a sustainable manner, working in partnership with the angling community to open up access opportunities for anglers of all ages and backgrounds. We believe that salmon angling should be open to all members of society.  To that end, the angling fishery will continue to be open to the public going forward from this year.

Some limited netting will be required on the foreshore and lower estuary.  This will allow us to fulfil our management role and commitment to addressing the current predation issues, returning the Ythan to its former glory, in a bid to ensure that it remains one of the top sea trout rivers in Scotland for future generations.   The average sea trout catch over the last 5 years has been just under 1000 per annum from the Newburgh fishings.  While this is a credible baseline, we would expect to see these numbers significantly increase once the current predation levels are reduced.