River Spey issue is about survival now

Amid doom and gloom about a sinking level of salmon catches, there is talk of the River Spey showing signs of being in terminal decline as a top destination for anglers. We must stress, of course, that the overall situation on salmon stocks appears to be bleak across the rest of Scotland, too. This indicates that it is not just a local problem. Changing sea conditions and an upsurge in marine predators are also believed to be a factor. But predation in the river itself and how Spey salmon stocks are managed locally are under intense scrutiny. It follows predictions that Spey catches could drop to a record low of below 3,000. Previously, it had been said that anything below 3,500 could be a critical turning point. The sensitivities have been exposed by a divergence of expert opinion this week as the Spey Fishery Board’s plans to harvest eggs from river fish to boost hatchery numbers – in response to the threat – were overruled by the Scottish Government. The board’s fish quota for taking eggs was reduced by a substantial 40% to protect the Spey’s conservation status. It was an uneasy compromise which highlighted a precarious balancing act with nature. The Spey consistently competed well with Scottish catch levels for years, but now the issue is not just about conservation, but survival.

“Previously, it had been said that anything below 3,500 could be a critical turning point”