Salmon slump on River Tweed

SALMON catches on River Tweed and its tributaries fell by seven per cent last year. A total of 7,680 fish were taken by rod and line during the 2016 season - down from 8,091 in 2015 – reflecting a year-on-year downward trend since 2013 when over 14,000 salmon were caught. There was an even sharper fall in the number of sea trout taken by anglers in 2016 – from 1,280 to 2,323 – the lowest catch in the past decade. The figures are revealed in the 2016 annual report of the River Tweed Commission (RTC) which highlights a significant decline in catches of salmon, particularly grilse (fish returning after a winter at sea) during the traditionally busy “autumn run”.

“The catches from August until the end of the 2016 season were markedly lower,” states the report. “October catches were down by around one third and those of November reduced by three quarters. “The pattern was similar in all parts of the main river and its tributaries.” The report also reveals that 85 per cent of the total rod salmon catch – some 6,500 fish – were returned to the river last year.

Source: Peeblesshire News, 27 March 2017
http://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/15170290.Seven_per_cent_salmon_slu…