(1)The annual close time for a salmon fishery district shall be a continuous period of not less than 168 days and shall apply to every mode of fishing for and taking salmon except to the extent that provision is made for periods within that time during which it is permitted to fish for and take salmon by rod and line.
(2)Subject to subsection (3) below, the dates of the annual close time and the periods within that time when it is permitted to fish for and take salmon by rod and line shall be, in the case of any particular district—
(a)the dates and periods specified in any designation order made in respect of that district; or
(b)where no designation order has been made in respect of that district, the dates and periods which were determined for the district (within the meaning of the 1862 to 1868 Acts), which had the same coastal limits as that salmon fishery district, under section 6(5) of the 1862 Act, but subject to any variation made under section 9 of the 1868 Act.
(3)The Scottish Ministers may, subject to subsection (1) above, by order (in this Act referred to as an “annual close time order”) prescribe for any district the dates of the annual close time and the periods within that time when it is permitted to fish for and take salmon by rod and line and they may make different provision for different parts of a district.
(4)Paragraphs 5, 6 and 10 to 15 of schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect in relation to the making of orders under this section.