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.
The powers and duties of a DSFB are summarised below.
will.levi.marshall@btinternet.com
Chairman: Martin Emkes
Treasurer: Martin Emkes
Board members: Angus Ferguson, J Biggar, Matthew Law (representing Chips Keswick), Martin Emkes, Joe Seed (representing Knockvennie)
Angling Associations: K Irvine (CDAA), W Marshall (DAA)
Angling Representatives: Richard Bellamy (DAA) and James Cunningham (CDAA)
Invitees – Galloway Fisheries Trust
The River Urr Salmon Fishery Management Plan (2023 - 2028) is available to view here
The River Urr River Rules 2024 are available to view here
Date and location of next Board meeting: Urr DSFB meeting 28th April 2025 at 6:30pm, Corsock Town Hall.
Next AGM: 28th April 2025 at 7:15 pm, Corsock Town Hall.
Salmon season: 15th March – 30th November (no salmon fishing on a Sunday).
All river rules for the Urr can be found in the download section in the document.
If you see diseased, dead or dying fish please report on-line using the following link: https://fms.scot/fish-health-and-disease/
GFT commissioned a Bolton based taxidermist, Phillip Leggett to create a realistic sparling model. This model accurately represents three adult sparling, which grow up to 30cm and are still present in the River Cree.
GFT recently attended the Fisheries Management Scotland Conference 'Salmon and People in a changing world.
This year's Saving the Sparling Project Intern has been continuing with the Sparling Goes to School Project by visiting local primary schools to teach pupils about the amazing Sparling.