New Fish Stocking Policy for Scotland

Scottish Government has announced a new policy on sea/​brown and rainbow trout stocking, to be phased in from January 2016 to January 2020, depending on the type of water and stocking history. These new arrangements seek to protect Scottish native brown trout populations from the potential negative impact on their genetic composition caused by breeding either with introduced wild origin fish or with farm reared stocks. In the case of rainbow trout, the policy aims to minimise potential risk to biodiversity. Exemptions to this policy may only be made on scientific or conservation grounds.

This Scottish policy follows implementation of a similar trout stocking policy in England and Wales that came into force on 1 January 2015.

Click here for the full Scottish stocking policy document. 

For more information about trout stocking regulations, advice for fisheries and the impact of stocking farmed fish, click here.