Salmon Fishery Statistics: 2013 Season

Summary

• The total reported rod catch (retained and released) of wild salmon and grilse for 2013 is 67,468. It is the lowest reported catch since 2003, and is 76% of the previous 5-year average.
• The proportion of the rod catch accounted for by catch and release is the highest recorded. In 2013, 92% of rod caught spring salmon was released, as was 80% of the annual rod catch.
• Trends in rod catch vary among individual stock components. Reported catch of spring salmon shows a general decline 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, has generally increased over the same period.
• Catch and effort for both fixed engine and net & coble fisheries remain at historically low levels. Reported catch in each fishery was 16,734 and 7,636; 7% and 3% of the maximum reported in the respective time series. Fishing effort in these fisheries was 238 trap months and 59 crew months; the sixth lowest and lowest, respectively, since records began in 1952.
• Salmon and grilse of farmed origin represented 0.1% of the total catch in 2013. Their distribution was highly uneven, the North West and West regions accounting for 88% of reports.

This publication summarises the salmon fishery statistics based on returns from proprietors, occupiers or agents of fisheries throughout Scotland for the 2013 fishing season. These data are derived from 1899 forms returned from 2022 forms issued (94% return rate). Final published statistics for the previous 10 years have been based on return rates of between 92% and 96%. These statistics are part of a time series which began in 1952 and are collected and collated by Marine Scotland Science.

A report summarising the status of Scottish salmon stocks based on reported rod catch data together with information from fish counters and fixed traps is updated annually, in April. The latest publication, Marine Scotland Science Report 03/14 "Status of Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout Stocks 2013", may be downloaded at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Publications/publicationslatest/Science/MSSR