Sea trout fishery statistics: 2016 season

Summary

• The total reported rod catch (retained and released) of sea trout for 2016 is 18,054. Catches have declined over much of the period since 1952, when our records began. Total reported rod catch in 2016 is the third lowest on record and 84% of the previous 5 year average.
• The proportion of the total rod catch accounted for by catch and release in 2016 is 81%. This is the highest value reported since records began in 1994. 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.
• Catch and effort for both fixed engine and net & coble fisheries were the lowest recorded since records began in 1952.

This publication summarises the sea trout 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.