1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Tweed Regulation (Salmon Conservation) Order 2016 and comes into force on 31st March 2016.
(2) In this Order—
“fish farming” means the breeding, rearing or cultivating of fish, whether or not for the purpose of producing food for human consumption but does not include fish bred, reared or cultivated in captivity which have later been released to the wild; and
“grid reference” means Ordnance Survey National Grid reference(1);
“salmon” means fish of the species Salmo salar (commonly known as salmon) or any part of such fish and excludes the migratory fish of the species Salmo trutta (commonly known as sea trout) or any part of such fish.
2.—(1) The Scottish Ministers must carry out, or arrange for the carrying out of, an assessment of the conservation status of salmon in—
(a)the River Tweed and all inland waters which drain, or drain to some extent, to the outflow point at grid reference NT 9730 5176 east of Berwick; and
(b)all other inland waters within the Tweed district.
(2) In making the assessment, or making arrangements for the assessment, in respect of the inland waters mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), the Scottish Ministers must have regard to the conservation objectives for the River Tweed(2).
(3) For the purposes of this article—
(a)“conservation status” means, in relation to salmon,—
(i)the stock levels of the salmon; and
(ii)the condition of the salmon; and
(b)“salmon” does not include any salmon produced by fish farming.
3.—(1) No person may retain any salmon caught in any coastal waters in the Tweed district.
(2) This article does not apply where a salmon is retained—
(a)for a purpose mentioned in article 48(1)(a) of the principal Order (exemption for certain offences in respect of acts done for scientific and other purposes: salmon) and permission to take the salmon has been granted in accordance with article 48(1)(b) of that Order; or
(b)within, and in the course of the operation of, a fish farm.
(3) For the purposes of this article—
“coastal waters” means waters other than inland waters(3);
“the principal Order” means the Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006;
“retain” means failing to return the fish at once to the river or other water from which it came and with the least possible injury.
4. The Scottish Ministers may agree a conservation plan in respect of the Tweed district with the Commission(4).
(1) For the purposes of this article—
(a)“conservation plan” means a plan setting out the objectives, priorities and management measures with respect to—
(i)the management of salmon fisheries in the Tweed district; and
(ii)the conservation of salmon in that district; and
(b)“salmon” does not include any salmon produced by fish farming.
5. In article 3(3) of the Tweed Regulation Order 2007(5) after “line” insert “in inland waters”.
AILEEN McLEOD
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
22nd February 2016