The catch form return time series runs from 1997 to the most recently published season.
The annual return of forms across all Scotland is provided as the number of forms issued, together with the numbers of forms returned reporting catch or net effort (identified as "Data" returns) and the numbers of Nil returns. The annual return rate of forms is indicated as the sum of "Data" and "Nil" returns expressed as a percentage of the total number of forms issued.
Information on salmon rod effort reporting is included from the 2023 season onwards. The return rate of rod effort is provided as the number of rod forms returned with effort information expressed as a percentage of the number of rod forms returned. The total number of rod-caught salmon covered by reported salmon rod effort is expressed as a percentage of the total number of rod-caught salmon.
Marine Scotland has published a summary of the "2025 Official Statistics for the time series (1952 to 2025) for salmon and sea trout” https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781807750060. Time series data, by District, are available from "Marine Scotland Data" https://dx.doi.org/10.7489/12564-1. Time series data, by Stock Assessment Area, are available from "Marine Scotland Data" https://dx.doi.org/10.7489/12565-1
Data and Resources
- Scottish salmon and sea trout fishery statistics 2025 - form (1997 to 2025) and effort (2023 to 2025) return rates - Scotland, by year - Excel Versionxlsx
Excel version of Scottish salmon and sea trout fishery statistics 2025 -...
Download - Salmon and sea trout fishery statistics: 1997-2025 - annual return of formscsv
The column headers are:
Year
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Description:...
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publisher | |
| Modified | 2026-04-29 |
| Release Date | 2026-04-27 |
| Identifier | b69d85dc-90bf-4666-af81-32d11f6a2449 |
| Spatial / Geographical Coverage Area | POLYGON ((-9.052734375 55.0555624432, -9.052734375 61.081536521501, -0.087890625 61.081536521501, -0.087890625 55.0555624432)) |
| Temporal Coverage | 1997-01-01 to 2025-12-31 |
| Language | English (United Kingdom) |
| License | UK Open Government Licence (OGL) |
| Data Dictionary | Catch and effort data are collected annually at the end of each season from salmon fishery proprietors, occupiers or their agents. Fishery statistics for a given season are usually published in the following April/May, along with any updates to the historical data. |
| Contact Name | Scottish Government, Marine Directorate |
| Contact Email | |
| Public Access Level | Public |
