About Us
The River Ayr District Salmon Fishery Board manages the protection, enhancement and conservation of the Atlantic salmon and sea trout stocks in the River Ayr. It also has a duty to ensure the general protection and enhancement of the fishery. The Board are a statutorily empowered body and should be consulted on matters affecting the river and fishery.
The Board members are elected at the Triennial Meeting of Qualified Proprietors every 3 years.
Board Members
The current Board was elected on 26 March 2025:
- Alan Hill (Chair) (representing Barskimming Estate Fishings)
- Greg Bowie (representing Annbank Angling Club)
- Charlie McDade (representing Sorn Angling Club)
- Gordon Millar (representing Mauchline and Ballochmyle Angling Club)
- Murray Ratcliffe (representing Annbank Angling Club)
- Max Stobbs (representing Mauchline and Ballochmyle Angling Club)
- Robin Wilson (representing Ladykirk Angling Club)
- Nick Wright (representing Sorn Castle Estate)
- Kevin Weir (Co-opted as a Salmon Anglers’ Representative)
Associates
Stuart Brabbs (Ayrshire Rivers Trust – Senior Biologist and Trust Manager)
Struan Candlish (Ayrshire Rivers Trust – Fisheries Biologist)
Carolyn Bryce (Ayrshire Rivers Trust – Biologist)
Clerk
Iain K Clark, LLB (Hons), DipLP, NP (Clerk to the DSFB)
Email: RiverAyrDSFB@gilonsgray.co.uk
District Salmon Fishery Board Scientific Advisers
Ayrshire Rivers Trust – 2 Crosshill Cottage, Mauchline, Ayrshire KA5 5HJ
(Tel: 01290 518 130)
Email: info@ayrshireriverstrust.org
Aims Of The Board
- To set and collect fishing levies from proprietors and tenants to allow effective management of the river by those appointed to the District Salmon Fishery Board
- Provide fishery protection
- Police the purchase and sale of illegally caught and unseasonable fish
- Improve fish passage over man made obstructions and barriers
- Protect juvenile fish and spawning redds
- Reverse the trend in the decline of adult Atlantic salmon by implementing policies that safeguard and enhance the natural spawning stock and the freshwater habitat
- Conduct habitat, population and migration assessments to guide management strategies
- Encourage good conservation policies to stop over exploitation of salmon
- Conserve and establish sustainable fisheries for the River Ayr
- Extend fishery awareness
- To ensure anglers are aware and abide by Scottish government Conservation Measures
- To find ways to improve the Conservation status of salmon stocks within the catchment whilst meeting necessary government requirements
- To provide comment and advice to those seeking assistance on all fishery related matters
Minutes of Meetings
- Minutes of Board Meeting 05.04.22
- Minutes of Board Meeting 30.05.22
- Minutes of Board Meeting 29.08.22
- Minutes of Board Meeting 24.10.22
- Minutes of Board Meeting 23.02.23
- Minutes of Board Meeting 19.09.23 (incl ART Report)
- Minutes of Board Meeting 06.12.23
- Minutes of Board Meeting 11.06.24
- Minutes of Annual Meetings of Qual Props and Annual Public Meeting 17.07.24
- Minutes of Board Meeting 11.12.24
- Minutes of Board Meeting 12.02.25
Audited Statements of Accounts
- Annual Accounts 2019-2020
- Annual Accounts 2020-2021
- Annual Accounts 2021-2022
- Annual Accounts 2022-2023
- Annual Accounts 2023-2024
- Annual Accounts 2024-2025
Annual Reports
Good Governance
- River Ayr DSFB – Meetings Protocol
- River Ayr DSFB – Policy on Members Relevant Interests
- River Ayr DSFB – Complaints Procedure
Fishing
Links
Downloads
- River Ayr DSFB – Code of Practice (incl leaflets) APPROVED 02.04.25
- River Ayr DSFB – Fisheries Information Pack (FOR DOWNLOAD) 03.04.25
- 1. River Ayr DSFB – Code of Practice APPROVED 02.04.25
- 2. Best Practice Guidance Catch and Release – January 2025
- 3. River Ayr Gyrodactylus salaris Declaration Form 26.03.25
- 4. FMS – Wanted Poster 03.06.21
- 5. FMS Guidance for Anglers on Identification of Farmed Fish
- 6. FMS Pacific Pink Salmon Advice note – May 2021
- 7. ART Invasive Weeds Information 30.06.21
- 8. River Ayr DSFB – Fishery Assessments – FAQs 31.10.24
Other Documents