Urr District Salmon Fishery Board


Salmon fishing rights in Scotland are private heritable titles that are registered separately from land. As such these titles can be bought and sold like any other property.

In Scotland, the cost of the local administration, protection and improvement of the fisheries is privately financed by the proprietors. The district boards finance their work by levying a rate on the salmon fishery owners in the district. Elected representatives of those owners provide the core of the membership of the Board. However, since 1986, the boards are required also to include representatives of salmon anglers and salmon netsmen in the district. A further revision to the constitution of the boards was made in 1999 to allow for even wider representation on the boards by other parties who may have an interest or stake in salmon stocks or fisheries.

Powers and Duties

The powers and duties of a DSFB are summarised below.

Powers

  • to act, undertake works and incur expenses for the protection and improvement of the fisheries within their districts, for the increase of salmon and sea trout and the stocking of the district with these fish.
  • to impose financial assessments on each salmon fishery in the district, and to charge interest on arrears.
  • to borrow funds, and to incur a wide range of expenditure in furtherance of their powers and duties.
  • to appoint bailiffs to enforce the salmon fisheries legislation.
  • exempt persons from certain provisions of the law for scientific or other purposes.
  • to sue in the name of the clerk.

Duties

  • to appoint a clerk.
  • to maintain a list of proprietors within the DSFBs district.
  • to produce an annual report and audited accounts and to consider these at an AGM.
  • to call a triennial electoral meeting.

Clerk (contact details)

George Gourlay
Craigmuie
Moniaive
Thornhill
Dumfrieshire
DG3 4ER
george@craigmuie.co.uk

DSFB Membership

Chairman: W Marshall
Treasurer: see clerk details above
Board members: Angus Ferguson, W G N Gourlay, J Biggar, Matthew Law (representing Chips Keswick), Martin Emkes, Joe Seed (representing Knockvennie)
Angling Associations: K Irvine (CDAA), W Marshall (DAA)
Invitees – Galloway Fisheries Trust 

The River Urr Salmon Fishery Management Plan (2023 - 2028) is available to view here

The River Urr River Rules 2024 are available to view here 

Date and location of next Board meeting: Urr DSFB meeting 11th March 2024 at 7pm, Corsock Town Hall. 

Next AGM: 15th April 2024 at 7:45 pm, Corsock Town Hall. 

DSFB Conservation Policy:

Salmon season: 15th March – 30th November (no salmon fishing on a Sunday).

  • The Urr has been designated as a Category 3 river under the new Salmon Conservation Regulations for the 2024 season. This means the killing of salmon is illegal). This categorisation is reviewed annually.
  • To follow the River Urr Management Plan to enhance and improve habitats and water quality.

The Urr Rules of the River

All river rules for the Urr can be found in the download section in the document.

If you see diseased, dead or dying fish please report on-line using the following link: https://fms.scot/fish-health-and-disease/  

Downloads


Wild Fisheries Reform-AGM 2016
Wild Fisheries Reform-AGM 2016

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Urr District Salmon Fishery Board Data Handling Policy
Urr District Salmon Fishery Board Data Handling Policy

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Complaint Handling Procedure
Complaint Handling Procedure

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Urr DSFB Chair AGM Report 2017
Urr DSFB Chair AGM Report 2017

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Urr DSFB Chair AGM Report 2016 v2
Urr DSFB Chair AGM report 2016 v2

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Minutes of Urr DSFB Board Meeting 5th Feb 2019
Minutes of Urr DSFB Board meeting held at The Market Inn, Queen St, Castle Douglas on 5th February 2019.

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River Urr AGM Minutes 18th March 2019
River Urr AGM held on the 18th March 2019 at the Market Inn, Queen St, Castle Douglas.

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UDSFB Board Meeting 25th Nov 2019 ; Agenda
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Notice of Urr AGM 2020
16th March 2020, 7pm Market Inn, Castle Douglas

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Minutes of Board meeting held on 10th Feb, 2020
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Urr DSFB AGM Agenda (16th March 2020)
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Minutes of AGM held on the 18th March 2019
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Urr DSFB AGM 17th March 2020
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UDSFB AGM April 2021
Minutes of the UDSFB AGM April 2021

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Agenda Meeting 1st Nov 21
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UDSFB Minutes of Board Meeting
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Chair AGM report 2021
Chairman's report for the 2021 Urr DSFB AGM

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Urr DSFB accounts to 31st Oct 2021

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2022 UDSFB AGM Agenda

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21st Mar 2022 Board mins

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UDSFB board minutes
UDSFB minutes from 7/2/23

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UDSFB notice
notice of meetings on 17/4/23

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17.4.23 UDSFB board minutes
17.4.23 UDSFB board minutes

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17.4.23 UDSFB triennial

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2023 UDSFB AGM minutes
2023 UDSFB AGM minutes

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Urr DSFB agenda Oct 2023
Urr DSFB agenda Oct 2023

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UDSFB meeting agenda March 2024
UDSFB meeting agenda March 2024

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River Urr River Rules 2024
River Urr River Rules 2024

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Gallery


Latest News


Annan Riparian Restoration Network

GFT has been successful in securing funding from the FIRNS scheme to develop a large-scale habitat restoration project for the River Annan catchment.

Improving fish passage and river flow below Tongland Dam

SEPA have been undertaking a review of the current CAR license which the Galloway Hydro Scheme operates under.

Kirkcowan Fishing Competition

On Saturday 26th August we held our annual Kirkcowan Fishing Competition. 35 adults and 12 juniors entered the competition this year, providing a fund of £211 that is put back into the event via prizes and a buffet.

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