A BORDERS MSP has brought the plight of the salmon industry to the Parliament table.

Michelle Ballantyne welcomed over 100 experts and representatives from various conservation groups and industry companies to Holyrood last week.

Ms Ballantyne, who is the the Scottish Environment LINK Species Champion for the Atlantic salmon, was responding to the dwindling numbers of fish in Scottish rivers.

Among those in attendance were representatives from the Tweed Foundation and River Tweed Commission.

Ms Ballantyne said: "As LINK species champion for the Atlantic salmon, I was honoured to be able to hold this event in Parliament and help to find solutions to the threats facing Scotland’s most iconic fish.

“Salmon bring a substantial economic benefit to the Borders, so, in supporting salmon, we are also supporting those whose livelihoods depend on the industry.

"What is good for our fish is good for our environment and our economy.

“However, with wild salmon stocks approaching crisis point it is now more valuable than ever that we, as politicians, listen to the experts and have a meaningful conversation about what can be done to protect and replenish stocks.

“Much work is still needed, but this meeting was successful in bringing together experts from all corners of the industry and stoked some constructive discussions that will no doubt lead to real action.

“By raising awareness of the scale of the challenge we can increase support for conservation organisations and stakeholders across the country and turn our attention to what can be done legislatively to aid wild salmon.”

At its height the Tweed salmon industry was worth around £24 million each year to the Borders economy - and supported around 500 jobs.

But a vast drop in the number of fish in the river over the past five or six years has seen catches and angler numbers steadily fall.

The Parliament meeting, which was sponsored by Fisheries Management Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates, featured presentations about the state of wild salmon in Scotland and how the resilience of stocks can be improved.

Representatives were encouraged to discuss the issues, including the need for the reform of river management funding and the implementation of limited licences for the culling of predatory birds.

Fisheries Management Scotland CEO, Dr Alan Wells, said: “Salmon catches in Scotland have reached the lowest levels ever recorded, and nature is sending us some urgent signals about what could happen next.

“Put simply, salmon conservation must become a national priority. Our leaders will be judged by their actions in meeting that challenge.”