Wild Salmon Strategy Science and Evidence Board minutes: May 2025

Attendees and apologies

• John Armstrong, Marine Directorate (Chair)
• Steven Dora, Marine Directorate (Secretariat)
• Melanie Smith, Atlantic Salmon Trust
• Alan Wells, Fisheries Management Scotland
• Lorraine Hawkins, Dee District Salmon Fishery Board
• David Summers, Tay District Salmon Fishery Board
• James Hunt, Tweed Foundation
• Peter Pollard, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Chris Todd, St Andrews University

Apologies

• Colin Bean, NatureScot

Items and actions

Welcome, introduction and apologies

The chair welcomed all to the meeting, noted apologies from Colin Bean and outlined that the main reason for the meeting was to (i) catch up on developments since the previous meeting on 21 November, (ii) discuss any further work required on the Science and Evidence Board’s (SEB) recovery stocking advice to the Wild Salmon Strategy (WSS) Delivery Group and (iii) make plans for the year ahead.

Minutes of the previous meeting (21 November 2024)

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed.

Matters for any other business

The chair asked SEB members to outline any matters they wished to discuss under AOB later in the meeting. 

 One suggestion had been received prior to the meeting which was:

• the report circulated to the Board by David Summers on 4 April titled Genetic Estimation of the Proportions of Stocked and Wild Salmon among the Juveniles in the Upper Garry of the River Tay, 2018-2023 led by Victoria Pritchard of UHI Inverness

The following matters were also tabled:

• the water scarcity situation in Scotland with the Rivers Shin and Naver very low
• environmental monitoring of fish farms as a consequence of the introduction of the Sea Lice Risk Assessment Framework (SLRAF)
  • action point 1 – PP offered to pick up AW’s point (above) and discuss further with FMS offline
• JH noted a stock differentiation project undertaken with Victoria Pritchard of UHI which showed clear genetic differentiation between a number of tributaries of the River Tweed
• JH requested an update on results from the Saprolegnia samples provided which Alan Wells agreed to arrange
  • action point 2 – Alan Wells to arrange a meeting with Pieter Van West to discuss saprolegnia sampling results

Feedback on discussion of SEB Recovery Stocking Advice by the WSS Delivery Board and next steps for concluding this workstream

The WSS Delivery Group’s (DG) discussed at its meeting on 28 February smolt to adult supplementation as set out in the SEB draft recovery stocking paper. The outcome at that meeting was consensus that this methodology should be applied only as part of scientific investigations in low risk situations with particular concern expressed around the consequences of straying from stocking. The DG might consider not applying any advice it receives retrospectively; this approach should address situations where there might otherwise be conflict between SEB advice and action already being taken on the ground.

It had been raised at the DG meeting that the SEB advice was not cognisant of socio-economic considerations and there had been some subsequent correspondence to clarify what this meant. There was consensus within SEB that its remit was restricted to the provision of science and evidence-based advice whereas the nature of the DG allowed it to consider wider socio-economic management factors in reaching its position.

The Board considered whether its advice to the Delivery Group on recovery stocking was complete subject to any appropriate amendment based on the DG position. The Board agreed that before finalising it should, if presenters are available, consider three pieces of recently reported and ongoing work: Carron stocking (Victoria Pritchard, UHI), Shieldaig stocking (David Morris, SEDD) and Ness stocking Brian Shaw (Ness BSFB). 
SEB considered that the questions for these presenters  at a forthcoming meeting should focus on:

• straying
• the genetic consequences of rearing
• effects of rearing on survival
• genetic drift vs adaptation

Further actions:

• action point 3: SEB secretariat to invite Victoria Pritchard, Brian Shaw and David Morris to a forthcoming dedicated meeting on genetics and implications for recovery stocking to be held if possible in the second half of July; a meeting of two parts with open and closed sessions
• action point 4: all SEB members to consider phase 1 and 2 Carron reports and associated publicity material in advance of the forthcoming meeting
• action point 5: CT agreed to present on smolt phenotype and genotype variation at the next meeting and if possible, prepare a paper in advance for the SEB to see
• action point 6: All SEB members to revisit SEB’s recovery stocking advice and, if helpful, suggest modifications by email reflecting on today’s discussions and the new NASCO guidelines

Predation

The DG planned to discuss predation on salmon by fish-eating birds and seals  in autumn 2025 and has requested summary background advice from the SEB. 

• action point 6: JA to draft summary advice for discussion by the SEB in a meeting which should also include relevant NatureScot specialists, Steve Campbell from Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), Matt Newton (SEDD) and a representative from MDLOT
• action point 7: SD to circulate the suggested invitee list for the forthcoming stocking and predation meetings and a calendar of forthcoming meetings

Additional planning for business 2025-2026

In addition to concluding advice on recovery stocking and predation impacts, SEB will continue harmonisation of monitoring across public and private sectors, hold a workshop to discuss large wood additions for enhancing salmon habitats and commence review of pressures. 

Any other business

The group discussed the report circulated by David Summers entitled Genetic Estimation of the Proportions of Stocked and Wild Salmon among the Juveniles in the Upper Garry of the River Tay, 2018-2023

Date(s) of next meeting(s)

The next two meetings of the SEB would be dedicated meetings on stocking and predation and would ideally be arranged by the SEB secretariat before the end of July.