We are committed to protecting and enhancing Scotland's wild fisheries to ensure a long-term future for both the species and the socio-economic benefits that flow from the fisheries.

It is a credit to Scotland that there are so many dedicated people working at a local level who care passionately about our wild fisheries. Much good work takes place around the country to improve the freshwater habitat for salmon, encourage responsible fishing and educate the next generation of anglers.

It’s also important that we meet our obligations to the EU and the international community. To strike the right balance we must have the correct mechanisms in place to manage our fish stocks and I want to make sure that those who have an interest in our wild fisheries have the chance to make their views known.

More than two months have passed since the consultation on proposed conservation measures to introduce a licensing system for the killing of any wild salmon in Scotland closed, with more than 600 responses received from a wide range of sectors including academics, angling clubs, businesses, fishery management organisations, ghillies, anglers, proprietors and public bodies.

It is clear from their responses that many were keen to know more of the detail about how the kill licence would work in practice. Since then we have been engaging with stakeholders and their representatives on much of the detail to determine how best to move forward.

Of course, a lot of the commentary has been around the main impetuses for the potential measure and its necessity when discussions continue around the wider wild fisheries reform agenda.

The background to the proposal rests in part with the disconnect between Scottish ministers being accountable for the management of Atlantic salmon, which is protected under the Habitats Directive, and District Salmon Fishery Boards that are responsible for the management of salmon stock. That is a position that cannot wait for the wild fisheries reform programme to conclude. It requires immediate action.

Last year the Scottish Government commissioned a review of the management of wild fisheries and one of the key recommendations was for urgent action to introduce a "kill licence" regime for salmon to ensure that the killing of this protected species only happened if there was a harvestable surplus.

Many have already commented that Scotland doesn’t have a sufficient system in place to manage the harvesting of salmon to meet our international obligations under the Habitats Directive. The proposed kill licence provides such a mechanism.

In parallel, we are alive to the continuing concerns around Scotland’s salmon stocks and the need to supplement the existing spring conservation methods with further means of protection.

With those factors in mind and having reflected on the comments received during the consultation process, we announced last week that our intention remained to create a licensing system and carcass tagging regime as well as a prohibition on the killing of salmon outwith estuary limits through regulations.

That prohibition will be until such time as our understanding of the impact of a mixed stock fishery is much clearer. As required under the legislation, interested parties have a further opportunity to make any representations and objections within 28 days.

In making this announcement I fully recognised that such a measure could have a significant impact on certain sectors and individuals.

That is why I also initiated a week-long interactive discussion, which ended yesterday, on the detail of the scheme and some of the common messages and themes emerging from the consultation process. This provided an open forum where everyone could share and discuss their views on these important issues. This innovative way gave people with an interest an additional opportunity to share their views.

I am pleased to say that, so far, almost 100 people have chosen to engage with this process. Participation has ranged from people making one or two comments through to posting ideas and engaging in discussion with other stakeholders. I would hope that this dialogue will be used by people to make a more informed response to the statutory 28-day consultation which closes on August 19. Further details are available on the Marine Scotland website.

I am committed to taking the comments on board before deciding on the appropriate course of action.

Richard Lochhead is Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment.