In the next few weeks thousands of young salmon will be making their hazardous journey down rivers and out to sea in their annual spring migration. But how many will return to their natal rivers in the next 3-4 years in order to spawn and produce the next generation? With wild salmon stocks in steep decline, scientists from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust will use advanced monitoring technology on the River Frome in Dorset as part of an international effort to save the species.
According to recent figures, anglers participating in freshwater salmon fishing inject a staggering £500 million into the rural economy, but this important source of income could be under threat because of the serious decline of Atlantic salmon populations.
Globally, Atlantic salmon have suffered a massive 70 per cent decline in the past 30 years and there is now an international effort in place to provide effective conservation and restoration of the species.
In this country, one of the leading centres for wild salmon and sea trout research is on the River Frome in Dorset is now managed by The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Until recently, the fisheries research based on the river was run by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s salmon and trout research centre is directly involved in the international effort to research wild salmon declines and their causes and the entire river catchment has been transformed into an impressive natural river laboratory. To date, this research facility, which comprises the most technically advanced scientific monitoring equipment of any river in the country has collected nearly 40 years of data, which will have an important input in the future management of adult salmon.
Dr Nick Sotherton, director of research with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust said, “The number of fish returning to rivers from the sea is falling, but there are also problems in the river. High sediment loads reduce egg survival and predators take the young fish. Although these hazards for salmon have always existed, their effect is more noticeable given the low numbers of adults returning from the sea.â€
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