Scottish salmon and sea trout fishery statistics 2022

Salmon Rod Fishery

Of the 42,204 wild fish reported as caught in the rod fishery, 40,743 were subsequently released and 1,461 retained. Total rod catch of salmon has generally declined from its peak in 2010. The 2022 total rod catch was the fourth lowest out of the 71 years since records began in 1952 and 96% of the previous five-year average.

Data source: 2022 Scottish salmon and sea trout statistics, Supplementary Tables, Table 1, from Marine Scotland.

Stock Components

Trends in total rod catch vary among individual stock components (Chart 2). Catch of spring multi sea-winter (MSW) fish (taken before 1 May) has generally declined since records began though they have been relatively stable in recent years. The 2022 spring catch was 122% of the previous five-year average, which is affected by the fishery closures during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Following a period of decline, catch of MSW caught after April summed with one sea-winter salmon (1SW), increased in 2022. The 2022 total shows an increase of 13%, when compared with 2021, and is 94% of the previous five-year average.

Data source: 2022 Scottish salmon and sea trout statistics, Supplementary Tables, Table 1, from Marine Scotland.

Catch and release

The percentage of the rod catch accounted for by catch and release has generally increased since 1994, when such information was first recorded. In 2022, 97% of the annual rod catch, and 99% of the spring rod catch, were released (Chart 3). 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.

Data source: 2022 Scottish salmon and sea trout statistics, Supplementary Tables, Table 1, from Marine Scotland.