Illegal salmon fishing to be targeted by police and river chiefs in Ayrshire

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Police and river wardens are joining forces to tackle illegal salmon fishing in Ayrshire.The River Doon District Salmon Fishery Board have teamed up with cops in a new initiative to combat poaching and other wildlife crime.

The Doon is home to the likes of wild Atlantic Salmon, the rare Freshwater Mussel, bird species such as Kingfishers and Dippers, and a reviving Otter population.In recent years anglers have made a significant contribution to securing future stocks of wild salmon by releasing over 95 per cent of all reported rod-caught salmon back to the river to continue their journey to the spawning grounds.However, illegal poaching continues to pose a threat to these vulnerable salmon stocks.

The River Doon River Watch Scheme aims to enable not just anglers, but all who care about preserving the salmon for future generations, a way to report any suspicious activity.Iain K Clark, Clerk to the River Doon DSFB, said: "As part of its role in managing the protection, enhancement and conservation of Atlantic Salmon, the Board have appointed a River Patrol Coordinator to patrol the River Doon and its tributaries, and a River Watch Coordinator, who will coordinate all reports received through a new confidential 24-hour hotline number and dedicated e-mail address established by the Board.

The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android."Any suspicious activity reported will be