We've bought a river to bring back our dying salmon

We've bought a river to bring back our dying salmon

23 hours ago By Mary McCool , BBC Scotland News Share

SGA Media Committee members Peter Lock, David Hogg and River Convener Grant Kellie hope the river purchase leads to salmon recovery

A group of anglers have bought a four-mile stretch of the River Ericht in Perthshire, to try and improve water conditions that are harming endangered salmon. The river, which runs through the town of Blairgowrie, is a key spawning tributary in the River Tay system. But the Blairgowrie Rattray and District Angling Association (BRDAA), who have been fishing in the area for a century, says there is a history of water extraction for industrial purposes and salmon stocks are falling due to low water levels. The club hopes their buy-out from previous owner Macpherson Fishing will increase their lobbying power to the Scottish government.

Salmon stocks are falling in rivers across the country with rod catch numbers at their lowest level since 1952, according to the latest Scottish government figures. The River Ericht however has a problem with water abstractions which make it more difficult for the fish to swim upstream - as low waters make stressed fish more susceptible to predators such as birds. The BRDAA said use of the river by mill lades and a fish farm over time has reduced flows along with Victorian-age weirs which are now falling into disrepair, starving the river of water in dry spells. Following the official handover of the four-mile stretch of river on Saturday, the group said it would leave "no stone unturned" to help species recovery on the Ericht - which is part of a European Special Area of Conservation for salmon. Anglers in the group carry out a range of work on the river each year, from litter picks and tree planting to managing invasive species on the river banks. They also monitor salmon stock and, now that they own a larger stretch of the river, they expect their data will give them greater clout when making arguments to the Scottish government.

SGA Media Jamie Macpherson of Macpherson Fishing takes the first ceremonial cast after the stretch of river was handed over

The BRDAA said it had been "encouraged" by catches to date this year, with 38 landed from the Ericht and returned to the water mostly during the key spring run. But river convener Grant Kellie, who is also a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association's fishing group, said he had seen salmon stranded and dying on the Ericht. He said: "Water abstraction has a detrimental effect on the movement of fish, whether juveniles or adult salmon heading upstream so we need to keep the flows more regular. “This is not just an issue on the Ericht. I believe there are about 260 rivers in Scotland which all have issues preventing the easy passage of migratory fish. "The Scottish government needs to step up at this moment in time and get this implemented so we can get the fish back to where they should be. "The national salmon strategy is not working, at the moment. "Now that salmon are on the endangered list, how long does the species have?”