ANGLERS on the River Tweed catchment could be forced by law next year to return all spring salmon they take to the world-famous river and its tributaries.

The likelihood of “catch and release” - currently a voluntary obligation on all local rods - becoming mandatory was flagged up last week by local MSP Paul Wheelhouse in his capacity as Scottish Government minister for the environment and climate change.

And his efforts to conserve threatened spring stocks across Scotland have been welcomed by the River Tweed Commission (RTC) which regulates all aspects of the fishery, including the springer season which runs, like the fish, from February 1 to June 30 each year.

In a written parliamentary answer, Mr Wheelhouse said the conservation of spring stocks of wild Scottish salmon was “an issue of growing concern”.

“I consider it necessary to take proactive action in order to protect these stocks by placing on a statutory footing the good practice operated by many responsible anglers and netsmen across Scotland,” said Mr Wheelhouse.

“I therefore intend to consult on statutory conservation measures, to be effective for commencement in 2015, requiring mandatory catch and release until April 1, together with a delay in the start of the net fishing season, which broadly replicates the voluntary arrangements that have been in place prior to the 2014 season.

“This conservation measure would be for an initial five-year period at which point it would be reviewed.” Back in 2011 the RTC introduced its own proscriptive catch and release policy to cover the entire spring season until 2015.

It demands that all salmon taken over this season are returned safely to the river and urges anglers to use barbless hooks to minimise harm to the fish before they are released.

As an incentive, the RTC pays the in-river net fishery not to take spring salmon until mid June when the fish are still running. In addition, anglers who comply with the policy are entitled to wear a “Spring Salmon” shirt.

Nick Yonge, clerk to the RTC and director of the scientific Tweed Foundation, said this week that the current voluntary arrangement had protected 96% of the spring salmon which had made it to the river this year.

He told the Border Telegraph: “I welcome the proposed consultation and the recognition of this issue by the Scottish Government and I look forward to discussing it with them.” Mr Yonge revealed that the RTC had already applied to the Scottish Government to introduce enhanced conservation measures to protect the Tweed’s spring salmon - extending beyond the April 1 time limit outlined by Mr Wheelhouse “Our application, which seeks measures until the end of April, has been followed by concerns from other bodies, including the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards, which has highlighted the low numbers of returning spring salmon generally and has recommended that no salmon should be taken anywhere in Scotland before May 15,” said Mr Yonge.

“Moreover, the RTC supports internationally accepted good management practice that no salmon, including spring salmon, should be taken anywhere except in their river of origin.”