Salmon fishery board condemns Usan's fishing extension

The Esk District Salmon Fishery Board said giving Usan Salmon Fisheries an additional 14 days to catch fish was "recklessly irresponsible", BBC News reports

It has described the move as making "no sense at all" in terms of conservation.

A government spokeswoman said there was no evidence the extension would have a detrimental impact on stocks.

Usan Salmon Fisheries will be allowed to net and kill salmon between 1 September and 14 September, after the end of the statutory netting season on 31 August, for three years from 2012.

According to BBC News, the reason for the extension had been stated as "to compensate the fishery for disruption" caused by Marine Scotland Science having "access to fish and genetic samples during the commercial fishery season" for tagging research purposes.

Hugh Campbell Adamson, chairman of the fishery board told the news source that they are perturbed by the government's unilateral intention to allow netting in September.

"It makes no sense at all from a conservation perspective to permit any additional pressure on salmon stocks."