Salmon fishery statistics: 2014 season

Summary

• The total reported rod catch (retained and released) of wild salmon and grilse for 2014 is 45,175. Total reported rod catch in 2010 was the highest on record. The reported catch has dropped in each subsequent year and in 2014 was the second lowest on record, 53% of the previous 5-year average
• The proportion of the rod catch accounted for by catch and release is the highest recorded. In 2014, 93% of rod caught spring salmon was released, as was 82% of the annual rod catch. A proportion of fish released from the rod fishery may be re-caught and hence inflate the catch statistics by appearing in the reported data more than once.
• Trends in rod catch vary among individual stock components.
• Reported catch of spring salmon has generally declined 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, generally increased up to 2010, after which it has fallen sharply.
• Catch and effort for both fixed engine and net & coble fisheries remain at historically low levels. Reported catch in each fishery was 13,343 and 4,435 respectively; 5% and 2% of the maximum reported in the respective time series. Fishing effort in these fisheries was 203.5 trap months and 55 crew months; the fifth lowest and lowest, respectively, since records began in 1952.
• Salmon and grilse of farmed origin represented 0.1% of the total catch in 2014. Their distribution was highly uneven, the North West region accounting for 77% of those reported.

This publication summarises the salmon fishery statistics based on returns from proprietors, occupiers or agents of fisheries throughout Scotland for the 2014 fishing season. These data are derived from 1,875 forms returned from 2,014 forms issued (93% return rate). Final published statistics for the previous 10 years have been based on return rates of between 93% and 96%.

These statistics are part of a time series which began in 1952 and are collected and collated by Marine Scotland Science.

A report summarising the status of Scottish salmon stocks based on reported rod catch data together with information from fish counters and fixed traps is updated annually, in April. The latest publication, Marine Scotland Science Report "Status of Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout Stocks 2014", may be downloaded at
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Publications/publicationslatest/Science/MSSR