Salmon fishery statistics: 2016 season

Summary

• The total reported rod catch (retained and released) of wild salmon and grilse for 2016 is 55,109. Total reported catch is 80% of the previous 5-year average.
• The proportion of the rod catch accounted for by catch and release is the highest recorded. In 2016, 98% of rod caught spring salmon were released, as were 90% of the annual rod catch. A proportion of fish released from the rod fishery may be recaught 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, on the other hand, generally increased up to 2010, after which it fell sharply only to recover slightly in 2015 and 2016.
• Reported catch and effort for the fixed engine and net & coble fisheries were the lowest recorded by
• either fishery since records began in 1952.
• Salmon and grilse reported as being of farmed origin represented 0.1% of the total catch in 2016.

This publication summarises the salmon fishery statistics based on returns from proprietors, occupiers or agents of fisheries throughout Scotland for the 2016 fishing season. These data are derived from 1,962 forms returned from 2,105 forms issued (93% return rate). Final published statistics for the previous 10 years have been based on return rates of between 93% and 95%.

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

Statutory conservation measures are in place to regulate both the killing of salmon in the early months of the fishing season ( http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Salmon-Trout-Coarse/fishreform/licence/spring ) and in coastal waters and on stocks with poor conservation status ( http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Salmon-Trout-Coarse/fishreform/licence/status ).

These regulations will have an impact on the catch and effort data reported by Scottish salmon fisheries.