Salmon return to River Garry after 60-year absence

SSE, Sepa and Fisheries Board join forces to improve environment

A “dry” Perthshire river is flowing again for the first time in more than 60 years.

Salmon have been reintroduced to a 10-mile stretch of the River Garry, following an agreement between energy giant SSE, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board.

The board had piled pressure on SSE, the company responsible for extracting the river water, to act on its “moral and legal responsibility to bring the river back to life”.

And a ceremony at the Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre yesterday marked the start of water flowing from one of SSE’s hydropower dams.

Cabinet secretary for environment, climate change and land reform Roseanna Cunningham hosted the event.

The SNP MSP said: “Congratulations to those involved in the project to restore water to the River Garry, which is an excellent example of successful partnership working to improve our water environment.”

Jeremy Williamson, SSE’s director of renewable operations, added: “SSE has been delighted to play our part in restoring the water flow and allowing salmon back to the upper Garry.”

David Summers, director of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board, said: “We are delighted that the River Garry is flowing once again and that salmon have already been seen leaping at the falls of Struan, after an absence of over 60 years – something once assumed would never happen again.”

From left: Alastair Stephen, SSE’S fisheries biologist; David Summers, Tay Salmon District Fisheries Board fisheries director; and James Curran, CEO Sepa.