Fishing fears as returning wild salmon feel the heat

WILD salmon returning to Scottish rivers are at risk of perishing in the heatwave amid fears for the future of the fishing industry.

Salmon and sea trout anglers spend £73 million on their sport while the industry generates nearly £50 million in wages and self-employment income, supporting around 3,000 jobs.

But the heatwave has left water levels in many rivers dangerously low when wild salmon are returning to spawn, and Fisheries Management Scotland warns fish may not be interested in taking a fly.

Spokesman Brian Davidson said low water levels and heat issues were ‘pretty universal’ across the country’s rivers.

‘Fish prefer cooler water to migrate and salmon rely on spates and need more water than sea trout,’ he said.

‘This is the time when a lot of salmon return to Scottish river systems, especially grilse, which are summer returning fish after a winter at sea.

‘They also like shade. If the hot weather continues, it will become a matter for concern. The spring catch was pretty poor and now we have this.

‘If it continues, fish could die, especially on the smaller river systems which are shallow. On the deeper rivers, the fish will tend to lie in deep pools to keep cool and they will not be interested in being caught.’

Anglers are banned from taking their catches home on more than two-thirds of the 171 salmon rivers while a catchand-release policy covers 122, amid concerns that stocks are below safe conservation levels because of climate change and diseases spread by fish farms.