Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003

38 Salmon conservation regulations

(1) The Scottish Ministers may make regulations under this section if they consider that it is necessary or expedient to do so for the conservation of salmon.

(2) Regulations under this section shall not be taken to be for something other than the conservation of salmon by reason only that they also have effect in relation to the management of salmon fisheries for exploitation.

(3) In considering whether or not it is necessary or expedient to make regulations under this section the Scottish Ministers shall have regard to any representations made to them by any person having an interest in fishing for or taking salmon, or in the environment.

(4) Regulations under this section—

(a) may be made in relation only to salmon fisheries; and

(b) subject to subsection (5)(b) below, shall not be made in respect of matters in relation to which the Scottish Ministers have power to make regulations or orders under any other enactment relating to the management of salmon or freshwater fisheries.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred by this section, regulations under this section may—

(a) specify the type of information about any salmon fishery that a district salmon fishery board may require from the proprietor of the fishery and the time within which such information shall (if required) be supplied;

(b) prohibit the use of specified baits and lures for the purposes of the definition of “rod and line” in section 4 of this Act.

(6) Regulations under this section may—

(a) confer upon constables and water bailiffs such powers of enforcement, additional to those otherwise available under this Act, as the Scottish Ministers consider necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations;

(b) make provision generally in relation to any river or salmon fishery district, or in relation to any time or season;

(c) make different provision for different salmon fishery districts or different parts of such a district, or for different parts of a river, or for different cases or classes of case.

(7) Any person who—

(a) acts in contravention of; or

(b) fails to take any action required of that person by, or to comply with any requirement imposed on that person by,

regulations made under this section shall be guilty of an offence, and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(8) A person who commits an offence under this section may be convicted on the evidence of one witness.

(9) Paragraphs 7 to 15 of schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect in relation to the making of regulations under this section.