March 18, 2021 — The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) hired Polly Burns as its head of fisheries standard policy, according to a LinkedIn profile update.
Prior to joining the MSC, Burns held several roles within the aquaculture and fisheries sector, most notably as aquaculture interactions manager with Fisheries Management Scotland.
April 28, 2019 — Scotland’s salmon catches reached the lowest level on record in 2018, according to new figures published by the Scottish government.
The “Salmon fishery statistics: 2018” report confirms that in the rod and line fishery, a total 37,196 wild salmon and grilse were retained and released last year, representing just 67 percent of the previous five-year average. At the same time, the reported catch and effort for the fixed engine and net and coble fisheries were among the lowest recorded by either fishery since records began in 1952, with 3,751 wild salmon and grilse caught and retained. The latter was from a reported effort of 25.5 crew months.
Commenting on the statistics, Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the decline in wild salmon numbers was of great concern and that she was determined to safeguard the future of the species.
“The problem is down to a range of complex factors, many of which are [out of] our control, including the unprecedented water shortages Scotland experienced last summer,” she said.
Such low flows are known to be difficult conditions for anglers catching fish, and salmon have been shown to delay entering rivers until flows increase, which can be toward the end of the fishing season.