The campaign wants to stop coastal netting of salmon

The Salmon and Trout Association says such fisheries are hampering attempts to conserve Atlantic salmon stocks.

There are nearly 60 netting stations around Scotland - from Annan in the west to Eyemouth in the east - which the S&TA says kill thousands of fish.

Net fishermen have dismissed the claims as "utter nonsense" and said their methods had "stood the test of time".

The S&TA says fixed coastal nets indiscriminately kill adult salmon returning from sea to breed, with an average annual catch of 25,000 fish.

LOCATION OF THE 57 STATIONS IN THE S&TA CAMPAIGN 28 - Highlands 10 - Dumfries and Galloway 7 - Aberdeenshire 5 - Angus 4 - Argyll and Bute 1 - Scottish Borders 1 - Western Isles 1 - Northumberland

The association claims this is damaging salmon stocks and an industry worth �70m a year.

They have launched the country's first-ever campaign to highlight the issue and to begin negotiations for closing the netting stations.

"The Atlantic salmon is one of the truly great iconic species of Scotland," said S&TA executive director Paul Knight.

"It is far too valuable a resource to the rural economy for its long-term future to be put at risk by unrestrained and non-selective coastal netting.

"The marine survival of salmon has fallen dramatically in the last 40 years and accordingly it is vital that those that do survive are able to reach their rivers of birth, where they can spawn the next generation."

However, claims that net fishing is seriously affecting numbers have been denied by fishermen using such methods.

"It is complete and utter nonsense," said George Willacy of the Annan Fishermen's Association.

"The salmon fishings here on the Solway and particularly here in Annan were given by a Royal Charter in 1538."

'Test of time'

He said methods such as stake, poke and haaf-netting dated back more than 1,000 years.

"They have stood the test of time," said Mr Willacy.

"We have never interfered with the ecology and we have never interfered with stocks of fish.