2013 Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout catch returns (provisional)
Marine Scotland Science published the draft catch returns for 2013 today. Full details can be found here .
I don’t find the published format particularly user friendly; no annual totals for each river, two different spreadsheets for fish retained and released etc. There is a bit of work to do to compile the totals for each river but I suppose it keeps biologists out of mischief for a wee while. Hopefully you will be able to figure out the relative catches for each river.
Is it worth noting that the proportion of the total taken by nets increased from 16% in 2012 to 34% in 2013? No surprise I suppose, drought conditions always suit the netsmen.
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Hi Brian,
Some interesting data. If I am interpreting right a few points:
– 37,580 salmon (incl. grilse) killed in Scotalnd last year
– 65% of killed salmon in Scotland last year were by the netsman
– 13,269 rod caught salmon were killed
– 633 salmon killed by rods on the Spey or 12% of the total catch
– Total catch for the Spey 5,465 salmon
It’s not great reading!!
My maths may be a bit rusty but assuming a 10% catch rate and recatch rate I am coming out with only 4,854 individual salmon caught on the Spey (admitedly I havent gone as far as to include any adjustment for those fish not returned….)
Henry
Further to the above would the Spey Board support 100% catch and release?
Please sign at: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/alex-salmond-the-scottish-first-minister-the-scottish-government-s-wild-fisheries-review-panel-make-catch-release-mandatory-for-all-freshwater-atlantic-salmon-fishing-in-scotland?recruiter=36522808&utm_campaign=twitter_link_action_box&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition#
37,580 killed in Scotland is not acceptable when the stocks are so low.
As you know Henry the Spey Board strongly promote conservation, especially of spring salmon, all of which should be returned prior to the end of May. The conservation policy does not require 100% C&R but it has delivered improved return rates over a number of years with 88% overall return rate in 2013 and 92% in the spring months. There will always be a few percent of fish hooked that have to be dispatched so there is now limited scope for further improvements in the number released. Biologically therefore any future gains are small but politically they could be important. Locally important – it is helpful if everyone on the river is seen to be working together but potentially also on the national stage?
Brian