Tweed still UK's top salmon river despite threats to stocks

by DOUG COLLIE

The reputation of the Tweed as the most productive salmon river in the United Kingdom remained intact last year with increased rod catches despite a number of issues which continue to threaten fish numbers in the main river and its tributaries.

In its annual report for 2019 published today the River Tweed Commission [RTC] which controls and monitors fishing activity on behalf of local proprietors confirmed the improvement in catches following the fairly disastrous 2018 season.

Commission chairman Hugh Younger, in his annual statement, says: "Whilst salmon and sea-trout catches in 2019 were a distinct improvement on the depressed catches of 2018, the apparent emergent trend of a larger run of both salmon and sea-trout in the summer months has not counter balanced the absence of an autumn run.

"That said the Tweed remains the most productive salmon river in the UK catching 6,382 salmon and 2,176 sea-trout by rod and line during the 2019 season."

Mr Younger continues: "The marked reduction in salmon catches throughout Scotland over the past six years has led both the Scottish Government and those charged with the protection and management of fisheries to devote more resources on establishing the reasons for the decline.

"It is now clear that mortality at sea, for whatever reason, is the major peril faced by our smolts [juvenile salmon] and salmon and a primary objective for the RTC and its fellow fishery boards is now the protection of smolts with a view to boosting the number of returning salmon."

The report also points out efforts also continue to be made to minimise the effect of in-river predation (principallyby cormorants and goosanders). Mr Younger says: "We expect that more information on the possible causes will become available during the year following the smolt studies, the analysis of the diet of avian predators and also a satellite tracking project involving goosanders. Last year’s pilot study indicated that the Middle Tweed was the area where the highest smolt mortality occurred and this is the area where the most detailed monitoring will take place during the smolt run this spring."

The RTC reduced its budget again in 2019 to reflect lower rents paid for fishing on the river, but the annual income of about £500,000 is very much regarded now as a base figure if the RTC’s activities (including its support for the Tweed Foundation) are not to be curtailed. It is hoped to make an increased payment to the Tweed Foundation for 2020 to assist them with their studies on smolts and avian predator tracking.

A section covering the 2019 catches reports as follows: "Salmon - The total salmon catch at 6,814 was higher than the previous season (6,129 in 2018). 6,382 salmon (5,644 in 2018) were caught by rod and line and 336 (485) by net; 86%, 5,503 fish, of the total rod catch was returned (87% in 2018). The 2019 Tweed salmon catch showed a modest improvement on 2018, with 738 more fish caught by the rods.

"The lack of an autumn run was evident with a further drop in salmon catches from September onward: 2,602 in 2019 (3,240 in 2018). Weather conditions and fishing effort also played their part. 

"All tributaries except the Teviot saw an improvement in their catches, with the biggest increases seen on the Till (210 fish in 2019; 82 in 2018) and the Whiteadder (196 fish in 2019; 71 in 2018)

Sea-trout -  The 2019 sea-trout catch was also higher at 2,668 (1,158 in 2018), with the rods catching a significantly higher number of fish: 2,176 (817 in 2018). The net catch was also higher at 492 (341); 64% (74% in 2018) of rod caught sea-trout were returned."

In his contribution to the report, head fishery officer Karl Ferguson includes a passage which illustrates the virtual disappearance of wholesale illegal fishing or poaching on the Tweed.

Mr Ferguson says: "The early part of the year was very quiet with few incidents reported. Grayling anglers were checked regularly on the upper river from January through to March. As Spring salmon fishing got under way the focus of the team returned to the lower river with regular night patrols carried out at known poaching areas. 

"That work has been greatly aided by the purchase of new thermal imaging binoculars, which allow areas to be monitored during the hours of darkness from up to 1,800 metres distant. The binoculars also record illegal activity in real time, which can then be used as evidence.

"That equipment was used to detain an individual on Hallowstell Beach in possession of two gill nets and a salmon that resulted in a successful prosecution, the single case during the year; he pleaded guilty in Berwick Magistrates Court and was fined. There was a slight increase in netting activity last year in the Berwick area with a total of eight gill nets recovered. Night patrols using the RTC’s river boat were carried out during the summer."

Meanwhile a different approach was taken in the efforts to curb activity by the avian predators.

The report reveals: "Lasers were deployed by the Fishery Officers, with additional help from some boatmen, during 2019 as a way of disrupting the feeding patterns of the birds and discouraging the formation of permanent roosts using a non-lethal technique. 

"Whilst initially very successful, the birds quickly became accustomed to the laser and became more reluctant to move on. This technique does not therefore provide a permanent solution for the better protection of Tweed’s smolts and juvenile fish populations."