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Determination of Angling Exploitation Rates of Salmon on the River Tweed One of the key figures needed for the management of any Salmon population is the rate of exploitation by anglers, i.e., what percentage of the stock running upstream during the fishing season is being caught and killed. It is known that this varies throughout the season, with much higher rates being typical of early running stocks and lower rates for late running stocks. If these figures can be determined, the pressure is being put on the different stocks throughout the year can be deduced and measures can then be taken to ease pressure on any stocks where it is too high. Ideally, exploitation should be at the same rate on every stock, so that angling is not exerting selective pressure against any particular stock in a population. The Project proposal is to run a netting station in the Tweed estuary for 2 days a week around the entire year for three years. All the Salmon (and Sea-trout) caught would be tagged and released and the number of fish subsequently caught by anglers found, to give the exploitation rates. We would be able to use one of three recently closed netting stations are available for use for this work. By ascertaining the rate of exploitation of Tweed Salmon stocks we will be able to advise fishery proprietors and anglers of their impact on the stocks and whether remedial action to reduce this needs to be taken. For example, if angling impact turns out to be too heavy on one or more stocks, we could agree to extend the “Catch and Release,” policy, currently operating for the Spring over much of the catchment, to other seasonal stocks or catchment areas. If the exploitation rates are known, the pressures of angling on the Salmon stocks of the Tweed will be understood for the first time. These will then form the basis of an educational / interpretative initiative to make anglers more aware of their role in conserving stocks. As Sea-trout will be caught along with the Salmon, they too will be tagged and their exploitation rates worked out. The data will be used for modeling the Salmon population of the Tweed, helping to shape fisheries management decisions. The work will need to be repeated from time to time to ensure the data remains relevant, but once carried out, repetition will be much easier. |
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