Salmon anglers called for urgent action to protect Scottish wild salmon after the least on record were caught last year.
latest official data shows that anglers caught 35,693 Atlantic salmon. on Scottish rivers last year is the smallest number since the beginning of the record in 1952 and just 75% of average over in last five years.
Numbers for sea trout, a species found in the same rivers as salmon, also lowest on record by 12,636 and 77% of in latest five-year average.
Last years catch numbers affected by Covid lockdowns in spring 2021 but data consistent with latest trends. In 2018 last full year pre-pandemic wild salmon catch set previous record short of just over 37,600. In 2010, anglers caught over 111,400 salmon.
The data alarmed fishery experts and environmentalists. Wild salmon and trout are key species for many mammals and birds, as well as diving fish population harms other creatures such as the otter, osprey, and merganser, damaging the wider ecosystem.
Salmon are very sensitive to water temperature and reduced water purity. Them decline is seen as clear evidence that the climate crisis, pollution, fish farming and industrial activities are causing wider environmental damage.
Alan Wells, director of The Scottish Fisheries Authority called on the Scottish government speed it up new strategies for increase and protect salmon stocks. ” latest figures underline just how the situation became serious. We call government fulfill its existing obligations without delay and go much further in all areas where they are power to make a difference,” he said.
In January government agreed that wild salmon population was in a crisis. Promised to improve water quality. review law enforcement of conservation laws, reduce conflicts with human activities at sea and in coastal areas and intensify efforts to preserve the marine environment.
Since the 1990s, anglers in Scotland regained catch into the river in accordance with a voluntary environmental code, which is strictly controlled by fishing organizations and camouflage who angler’s guide on many fishing bits.
Along with the demolition of dams and weirs, the country’s district fisheries departments have pledged to establish millions of native trees along thousands of miles of river banks to reduce water temperature and reduce flash floods. “Trees act like natural umbrellas,” said Wells.
Some fisheries have explored the possibility of restocking heavily depopulated rivers. with young salmon in hatcheries from local wild stocks, although strategy remains controversial because of uncertainty about their survival.
Landowners and salmon specialists along the Carron River, which flows into Loch Carron. in Wester Ross, north of Skye, believe them reintroductions of hatchery fish saved her wild salmon population from near extinction.
Continuity of very strong current or flood events on Carron in late 1990s erased out young salmon leaving it with five-year average catch of just 10 salmon. By 2020 it was climbed up to 187.
Wells said resupply programs could work in some rivers, but the heaviest emphasis was needed on provision of rivers and wider environment we improved and protected.
“There are no one the golden bullet is here,” he said. “What we need to do is to take concerted action on range of pressure and policy areas. Do sure that bed and board for salmon like good as far as possible, and we maintain the optimal water temperature for salmon.”