I may be wrong , but as far as I am aware, the River Don is the only water in north east Scotland covered by a brown trout PO.
However the proposals simply refer to free fishing in Fresh Water. Montrose, Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Peterhead, Turriff, Huntly,Inverurie, Elgin, Forres, Nairn, etc. etc. are all angling clubs which either rent, own, manage, or administer beats on north east rivers. These clubs are required to pay fishery board rates which are determined by the Assessor. The clubs get this money via the sale of permits, otherwise they would fold. The rivers would suffer accordingly.
Likewise the" free fishing in fresh water" does not stipulate that angling effort be restricted to any particular type of fish. As I said previously, if this ever goes ahead under the current proposals, it could be the death knell for Scotland as an attraction for atlantic salmon fishing on the global market.
Imagine arriving at your beat in the morning to be confronted by a bunch of "see you Jimmies" a' droonin worms an' ploutin bandies....... O dear !