Luce District Salmon Fishery Board
Salmon fishing rights in Scotland are private heritable titles that are registered separately from land. As such these titles can be bought and sold like any other property.
Role of DSFB
Salmon fishing rights in Scotland are private heritable titles that are registered separately from land. As such these titles can be bought and sold like any other property. In Scotland, the cost of the local administration, protection and improvement of the fisheries is privately financed by the proprietors. The district boards finance their work by levying a rate on the salmon fishery owners in the district. Elected representatives of those owners provide the core of the membership of the Board. However, since 1986, the boards are required also to include representatives of salmon anglers and salmon netsmen in the district. A further revision to the constitution of the Boards was made in 1999 to allow for even wider representation on the boards by other parties who may have an interest or stake in salmon stocks or fisheries.
Powers and Duties
The powers and duties of a DSFB are summarised below.
Powers
- to act, undertake works and incur expenses for the protection and improvement of the fisheries within their districts, for the increase of salmon and sea trout and the stocking of the district with these fish.
- to impose financial assessments on each salmon fishery in the district, and to charge interest on arrears.
- to borrow funds, and to incur a wide range of expenditure in furtherance of their powers and duties.
- to appoint bailiffs to enforce the salmon fisheries legislation.
- exempt persons from certain provisions of the law for scientific or other purposes.
- to sue in the name of the clerk.
Duties
- to appoint a clerk.
- to maintain a list of proprietors within the DSFBs district.
- to produce an annual report and audited accounts and to consider these at an AGM.
- to call a triennial electoral meeting.
Clerk (contact details)
Stair Estates Office
Rephad
Stranraer
DG9 8BX
DSFB Membership
Chairman: The Right Honourable Earl of Stair
Treasurer: see clerk details above
Lower Proprietors: The Right Honourable Earl of Stair
Head Bailiff: Martin Lock (07801 256846)
Invited Attendees – David Bythell (angling syndicates), Stranraer & District Angling Association, Stranraer Salmon Fishing Association), Dunragit Angling Association, GFT, SEPA, SNH and three local councillors.
The Water of Luce Salmon Fishery Management Plan is available to view here
Date and location of next meeting: No date set
DSFB Conservation Policy
Salmon season: 25th February – 31st October (no salmon fishing on a Sunday)
- The Luce has been designated as a Category 3 river under the Salmon Conservation Regulations for the 2023 season. This means the killing of salmon is not permitted and all salmon fishing must be catch and release. This categorisation is reviewed annually.
- Fishing is by fly only.
- As many sea trout as possible and all herling are to be returned.
- A maximum of 2 sea trout per rod per day may be killed.
- All hen fish taken in October will be returned to the River or placed in keep nets sited at strategic points along the River for transfer to the hatchery.
- A hatchery is maintained for the production of young salmon and sea trout for restoration of the river and seeding less well populated parts of the catchment. Up to date best practice is followed by the stocking programme.
- An active Management & Conservation Plan is implemented through GFT.
- Watercourse conservation and river bank maintenance is carried with assistance from GFT and SEPA.
- Regular board meetings are held and all interested public, private and community interests are invited and encouraged to attend.
