WIREDGOV

Scotland’s Chief Statistician published the salmon and sea trout fishery statistics for the 2015 season.

Salmon

Total reported rod catch (retained and released) for 2015 is 54,969. This is a slight improvement on the 2014 total, which was the second lowest on record and followed annual declines since 2010’s record high. Reported rod catch in 2015 remains 69 per cent of the previous five year average.

The proportion of the rod catch accounted for by catch and release is the highest reported since these figures were first recorded in 1994. In 2015, 98 per cent of rod caught spring salmon was released, as was 84 per cent of the annual rod catch.

Trends in rod catch vary among individual stock components. Reported catch of spring salmon shows a general decline since records began and, although there is some indication that catch has stabilised in recent years, it remains at a historically low level. Overall catch of salmon and grilse in later months, on the other hand, showed a general increase up to 2010, after which it fell sharply over the next 4 years before recovering slightly in 2015.

Catch and effort for both fixed engine and net & coble fisheries remain at historically low levels. Reported catch in each fishery was 10,349 and 3,234; four per cent and one per cent of the maximum reported in the respective time series. Fishing effort in these fisheries was 127 trap months and 57 crew months; the lowest and second lowest, respectively, since records began in 1952.

Sea Trout

The total reported rod catch of sea trout (retained and released) for 2015 is 21,443. Although catches have declined over much of the period since 1952, when our records began, they appear to have stabilised in recent years and in 2015 were 96 per cent of the previous 5-year average.

The proportion of the rod catch accounted for by catch and release in 2015 is 79 per cent, the second highest reported since these figures were first recorded in 1994.

Catch and effort for both fixed engine and net & coble fisheries remain at historically low levels. Reported catch in each fishery was 1,521 and 2,760; three per cent and one per cent of the maximum reported in the respective time series. Fishing effort in these fisheries was 127 trap months and 57 crew months; the lowest and second lowest, respectively, since records began in 1952.