The Salmon and Trout Association (S&TA) is spearheading the campaign under the slogan "The Net Loss" and says the existence of this type of fishery is indefensible at a time of such uncertain marine survival because of factors related to climate change.
Scotland banned salmon drift netting more than 40 years ago but still allows a declared average annual catch of some 25,000 salmon to be killed in almost 60 mixed stock fisheries around Scotland's coastline.
S&TA wants to facilitate their negotiated closure through buying or leasing the associated heritable rights.
Paul Knight, executive director of S&TA, said: "The Atlantic salmon is one of the truly great iconic species of Scotland. It is 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.
"With marine survival such a lottery, the precautionary principle must prevail - and this means drastically reducing indiscriminate exploitation."
New bid to save Scottish salmon
UK - A major campaign aimed at conserving wild salmon stocks in Scotland's rivers by trying to close coastal netting stations was launched yesterday.