THE number of salmon and sea trout taken from Scotland’s rivers last year was the fourth lowest on record.

A total of 49,444 salmon were caught by rod and line, the lowest number since 2014 when 45,175 were recorded – and 80 per cent of the previous five-year average.

More fish were released back into the rivers last year, however.
Anglers returned about 90 per cent of all the fish caught, and 98 per cent of the crucial spawning salmon in the spring. Only 5,187 were kept, the lowest figure on record.

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This represents a remarkable turnaround from 1994 when only 1% of the spring salmon caught were released into rivers.

However, the long-term downward trend of catches has alarmed fishery managers.

The Herald:

About 600,000 salmon were caught in Scotland in 1967, but this also included commercially-netted fish. By 1975 the total catch had slipped to 500,000, and to 100,000 in 2000. The figure now seems to be consistently below 50,000. 

As salmon numbers fall visitors tend to stay away; the price of a day’s fishing declines and the local economy suffers.

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Andrew Graham-Stewart, director of Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland, said: “We have now had several years of low catches and it is beginning to look like a trend. That is why it is encouraging that the Scottish Government has intervened”.

The Herald:

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The SNP administration has tightened conservation measures, banning anglers from taking salmon from rivers with low returns, although it did not ban the killing of any wild fish.