The closure of a popular fishery will be a “serious loss” to anglers across Scotland, it has been claimed.
David Hendry, owner of Butterstone Loch and the Cardney Sporting Estate, announced it would not open this year.
In a statement issued at the weekend, he blamed a downturn in income and a decline in bookings.
He said: “Due to mounting losses over the last three seasons and a decline year on year in bookings over the last seven years, it has been decided it is no longer viable to keep Butterstone Loch trading as a fishery open to the general public.
“As a result, Butterstone Loch will not be opening this coming season. We at Cardney Estate would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your custom over the last three years.”
Keen angler and The Courier’s former fishing correspondent Ken Bell said the loss of the Perthshire fishery would be felt keenly across the country.
He also expressed fears for the effect it would have on the income of towns including Dunkeld and Blairgowrie, which benefit from visiting anglers.
He said: “It’s a serious loss to local angling facilities, not just for Tayside but for clubs coming from all over Scotland.
“It’s a beautiful place to fish and during the summer time it was almost impossible to get a boat to go out on the loch. It has always been a very popular loch and, until recently, it was busy most weekends.
“I went there very regularly but last year, if my club went out in the evening, we would often be the only ones there.”
Others have taken to Butterstone Loch’s Facebook page to discuss the announcement, with many describing it as “very sad news”, a “great shame”, and saying they were “very sorry” to hear the news.
Attempts were made to sell the business last year, with offers of over £4.4 million sought for the 2,000-acre Cardney Sporting Estate, and over £1.5m for the fishery.
Mr Bell, of Perth, said he hoped there was still a future for Butterstone.
He said: “If they stopped stocking it, it could affect the ospreys in the area. There are between eight and nine nests surrounding the loch and many of them fish here.
“There aren’t many other places like this in the local area, so it would be a shame to lose Butterstone.”