REASONS FOR THE BROWN TROUT PROTECTION ORDER

Historically, the River Don has long been recognised as offering some of the finest brown trout fishing in the whole of Scotland.

Within the last three decades, however, there has been a very dramatic decline in both quantity and quality of the brown trout in the river. Some reasons for this are known, such as the degree of uncontrolled fishing that has occurred in the recent past, pollution and changes in land usage and river characteristics but some are only to be guessed at.

The Don is now cleaner than it has been for many decades however we cannot stand on our laurels which is why research is continuing as part of the River Don Trust’s Fisheries Management Plan. 

The Protection Order was applied for and granted in 1990 to address the serious issue of uncontrolled fishing with live baits that was, at that time common place on the Don, the aims of the order as cited in the original application were to:

• introduce a measure of necessary control on fishing pressure and methods
• open up additional, controlled access to the river and thereby
• provide the essential source of funding, through the proposed Brown Trout Improvement Association, for a planned restocking program and, equally importantly, to enable a proper scientific study to be undertaken to establish the hidden causes of the recent decline.

In practice, what this means is that it is a criminal offence to fish on any part of the Don (or Urie) covered by the PO without written permission, those choosing to do so may be prosecuted.  Without the PO anglers fishing for non migratory species without permission are not committing any offence and can only be moved on.

This would pose a big problem both for trout stocks (removal of wild trout from a river cannot be classed as theft) and for the DDSFB bailiffs. 

The PO is vital for both proprietors and anglers. For the proprietors it provides some protection for their investment while trout anglers get the same benefit and improved access to the water at a reasonable rate. 

For the above reasons the protection order must be maintained and managed. While there are bound to be issues which will require resolution these will be addressed by the new management team now in place in consultation with all those who have the best interests of the Don at heart. 

Any questions about or issues relating to the PO should be directed to the secretary at ben@riverdon.org.uk