As Scots might say

ddled ld fisher es ll a ls to eas re p

The Scots have some wonderful idiomatic words and phrases which can be applied in widely divergent situations. I have always liked the word ‘fankle’ (tangle), which can be used to describe anything from the state of a ball of string to a confusion in someone s ideas or demeanour.

Likewise, the word ‘guddle’ (mess) can be applied to anything from the chaos of a teenager’s bedroom to ideas or proposals presented in an untidy or confusing way.

dhis brings me to the complexly titled Dra provisions for a Wild Fisheries (Scotland) Bill/ Dra Wild Fisheries Strategy: a consultation which was published by Marine Scotland in February.

I have read this document and related papers with deep interest and significant disappointment. suspect a good number of interested people will feel that the underlying policy ob ectives have got in a fankle and the outcome proposals are a bit of a guddle.

hasten to add that the need for better and more nationally accountable recreational fisheries management in Scotland is a significant priority. But the dra strategy and dra legislation will not result in that.

Historically, recreational fisheries in Scotland (which in economic and political terms are dominated by Atlantic salmon fisheries) have been in a policy vacuum or, in the case of salmon fisheries, managed in a very peculiar way.