Freeze agreed on fisheries permits

Fresh bid to encourage a new generation to the sport

Fishing permit prices are to be frozen for the 2017 season across the Stirling Council area.

The freeze is aimed at helping sustain and even increase demand at a time when many other areas are being hit by dwindling interest.

The council’s planning and regulation panel agreed unanimously to the recommendation after hearing from the authority’s fisheries officer Scott Mason.

He told members that in past years increasing prices had impacted sales, which potentially had a knock on effect on conservation, but that more recently, at £296, the cost of a residents’ roving permit made the salmon fisheries one of the cheapest in Scotland. And the number of permits sold had gone up from 146 in 2015 to 171 this year.

The council manages salmon fishing interests on the River Forth at Stirling and also on the River Teith at Callander. Conservation of the stocks is taken seriously with anglers’ catches limited. The council was the first in the UK to introduce carcass tagging, however anglers were said to “travel from far and wide” to the area as many other rivers were merely full catch and release.

For the 2017 fishing season, February 1 to October 31, all resident and visitor permit prices are being held so some of the best fishing will only be available to those who have bought a season permit.

Mr Mason said: “In 2008 the council agreed a full cost recovery model for Fisheries. Projected income was calculated against previous permit sales. The council significantly increased permit prices during 2008 to 2011 in an effort to achieve full cost recovery. These increases in prices contributed to a decline in permit sales. In an effort to halt the decline, the council restricted the price rise for 2012 to five per cent. Permit sales continued to decline. It agreed a rise of three per cent for the 2013 season and agreed to continue with this strategy for the 2014 season.” Mr Mason said long term there had been a decline in interest in the sport and he feared that the number of permits sold might drop next year if there was a significant rise in prices.

He added: “There are a number of factors for this decline, such as age and health of some anglers, the cost and the decrease in young people coming into the sport. These factors are not exclusive to Stirling Council’s Fishery and are evident across the country. A continued freeze in adult permit prices should stabilise angler numbers and potentially attract more anglers to the Fishery. A freeze in juvenile permit prices should encourage more youths. This fee reduction along with local projects and education will increase youth development.”

Mr Mason said for conservation status the council would need to maintain its carcass tags per angler. Day permits will need to continue to be catch and release. To encourage anglers to purchase season permits, day permits should continue to finish on August 31.

Prices: Residents: (adults, three tags) season permits £200, roving permits £296; (juvenile, 12-16 years, one tag) £10 and £15; (concession) £148 and £221; (up to three named children, up to 16 years, on adult ticket) £5 and £5. Visitors: (adults, three tags) season permits £289, roving permits £429; (juvenile, 12-16 years, one tag) £10 and £15; (concession) £226 and £342; (up to three named children up to 16 years on adult ticket) £5 and £5.

Day permits (Catch and Release) February 1 to August 31: One day ticket £30 (adult), £5 (child, accompanied by adult).

Corporate tickets available to organisations/businesses (in Stirling) £296 per rod, (outwith Stirling) £429 per rod.