Spey fishery board launch project to protect young Atlantic salmon during 'critical' migration phase
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A project aimed at protecting young Atlantic salmon during their critical migration phase has been launched.
The Spey Fishery Board announced the launch of 'Save Our Smolts', a ground-breaking initiative aimed at protecting salmon 'smolts', as they migrate from the headwaters of the River Spey, where they are born, before journeying to the North Atlantic to feed.
The Save Our Smolts Project is being launched in response to the crisis faced by Atlantic salmon populations (their numbers have dropped 75 per cent in the past 20 years).
Protecting young salmon, known as smolts, during their critical migration phase is essential for the species' survival.
As participants in the Atlantic Salmon Trust's Moray Firth Tracking project, which looked at the downstream migration of salmon smolts, the Spey Fishery Board have contributed to findings which are indicating that rivers with ‘pinch points’ experience higher smolt loss rate around these features.
The Save Our Smolts project, building on this valuable data, aims to address this issue by trapping and relocating juvenile salmon around known pinch points on the River Spey, ensuring their safe passage.
During this year's trial, salmon will be collected in traps above Loch Insh, a known pinch point on the River Spey. The salmon will then be electronically tagged, with half released above the loch and half below. By monitoring the survival rates of the two groups, the project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of trapping and relocating smolts on the River Spey.
The project, which will be running during the spring and early summer of 2023, highlights the importance of protecting young salmon, which are vital to the ecosystem and local economy.
Roger Knight, the Spey Fishery Board's director, said: "We are thrilled to be launching this important project, which has the potential to make a real difference to the survival of young salmon in the Spey. We believe that by working together, we can protect this vital part of our natural heritage and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy these magnificent fish."
Dr Sandy Scott, chairman of the Spey Fishery Board, said: “Anglers from across the world visit the River Spey each year to fish for salmon, providing the backbone of our local economy. So we must do all we can to help our Atlantic salmon – an iconic species sadly now in crisis. This work is very demanding on the limited resources of the Board’s small team, but it is vital if we are to achieve our mission of getting as many salmon smolts as possible out to sea. We look forward to hearing about the results in due course.”
Mark Bilsby, CEO Atlantic Salmon Trust, said: “This project is a great example of our sector working together and building on joint successes, ensuring that the important work from the Moray Firth Tracking Project stimulates further action to protect wild fish.
"That great, collaborative project is giving river boards and managers the confidence to take the next informed steps on their own catchments. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the River Spey, supporting them wherever we can to help them achieve their goals.”
