Salmon on the Brink!!!!

The eruption of an Icelandic volcano around 80 years ago provides us with the final piece of the jigsaw when searching for answers to how salmon numbers are affected by changes to the environment on which they have both adapted to depend! The affect of this particular event was enormous, as, the deposition of millions of tonnes of ash rendered 95% of the rivers spawning capacity sterile and unfit for purpose. This event saw the rivers capacity to produce salmon drop, interestingly, by around 95%, with natural recovery, over the short term [2 – 400 years] impossible, due to the lack of suitable spawning habitat and the time this natural process would take.

This event shows very clearly what can happen to the population of salmon in one specific river if nature flexes her muscles and throws something else into the mix.
Clearly the size of the population above was linked to the extent of suitable spawning habitat. Take this away and the population goes into free fall and collapses.

Looking at our own rivers, although we don’t have great “long term” records, we do know that, in the past, populations of salmon were infinitely greater than those levels seen today. What are thought by many people to be good levels, realistically, could only be described as a drop in the ocean if compared to those seen in the past. Salmon populations are monitored exclusively by those involved with salmon angling, a pastime which benefits from, but is non reliant on large numbers of salmon being present. "Very good" salmon fishing is nothing more than a “by-product” of an abundance of fish present. Of course, we know levels of salmon in our rivers have dropped significantly over the past 100 or so years, but why?
Their population dynamics, although very much influenced by weather and its affect on food in the ocean, never the less, remained at relatively high levels between the 15th and 19th centuries. Given this obvious abundance, why now, do we find ourselves protecting the last of this once bountiful and extremely healthy food source with such punitive and draconian measures? As one of Scotland’s most iconic creatures, surely we have an obligation to afford them the best chance to restore populations back to where they were in the past.

Firstly however, we must ask ourselves, what is the target? What really is a healthy salmon population? What is an acceptable level? Well, if the goal is to provide just enough to provide anglers with pleasure, then those punitive and draconian measures already in place would be more than enough to satisfy this multi million pound part of the tourist industry.

However, if the goal is to manage the salmon as it was in the past, as a “Sustainable food source” for the greater public, with angling being a mere by-product, then we must begin to look properly at the variety of problems, many of which we know we have created ourselves, and actually do something about them.
Statistics relating to salmon populations and their abundance prior to the 18th century are sketchy to say the least. However, we do know that, as early as the 14th century, large numbers were pickled and exported to England, France and the Baltic region, suggesting, at this time, good numbers of Salmon. Information relating to Scotland as having abundance can clearly be gleaned from the observations and accounts of early travellers who thankfully knew the long term value of putting pen to paper. Although In these days of proving everything beyond doubt, this may not be accepted, never the less, it provides us with the only accounts so must be taken seriously.

The 18th and 19th Centuries provide us with such information. Cromwellian Trooper, Captain Franks, writes of an abundance of this fish in every part of Scotland. Of the Forth he writes – “The Forth relieves the country with her great plenty of salmon”, so plentiful they are they here that, no Master shall compel servants or their apprentices to eat them more than thrice weekly! Their value is no more than a sixpence. Amazingly now, 99.99% of the public will never now taste a wild salmon in their entire lives! A hundred years later, English Engineer Officer, Captain Burt, writing from Inverness, says that the price of salmon there was a penny a-pound, and that the “meanest servants who are not on board wages will not make a meal upon salmon if they can get anything else to eat”. Around the same time, on reaching Aberdeen, Defoe writes – “The rivers Dee and Don afford salmon in the greatest plenty that can be imagined, to that degree that in some of the summer months the servants won't eat them but twice a-week, they are so fat and ful-some; it 's almost incredible how they spread”. Another “gentleman” traveller writes around the same time – “The salmon fishery is particularly the delight and the boast of the Scots”! They talk about salmon being barrelled up in great quantities before being exported abroad for considerable profit. These, and other statements provide us with good evidence of large numbers of fish present in all Scottish rivers on an annual basis, and also of a very considerable export of the fish in a salted state.

Around the beginning of the last century it became apparent, for various, well documented reasons, with the exception of only a few rivers, numbers of salmon in all rivers begun to decline, a decline seen by those few who understood, as an “extermination” of the species. The main reasons for this decline were known to be the increase of land drainage, obstructions and pollutions as a consequence of a rise of population and industry on the banks of rivers, the killing of spawning fish, the brevity or mistiming of the close-season, and over-fishing.

Looking closely at the above, it becomes apparent that the same problems sighted over 100 years ago still plague salmon today, namely, apathy and greed! Although, as stated above, most reasons for the decline were well known 100 and more years ago, this did not stop, 50 years later, those same “Vehicles of extermination” to be developed, only this time on a much grander scale. The period between 1950s - 8s,saw a massive programme of drainage for forestry across Scotland, accounting for an increase from 2% -18% of Scotland's landmass being drained, and with it a destruction of the fragile ecology of our river systems. Alongside this, the 40s and 50s saw the building of dams for Hydro power, something which, similarly to land drainage for forestry, those in power knew full well would have a lasting environmental impact on our rivers. Although to a lesser extent than those above, drainage for farming has played its part also in changing the hydrology and geomorphology of our rivers and their beds, thus also played its part the “extermination” of our salmon in quantities which could be recognised by those travellers of the past.

Sold to the Scottish people as socio-economic progress, something Scots will benefit from in the form of jobs from Forestry, Farming and Water, in actual fact, our land, environment and salmon have been systematically destroyed by this hypocrisy. Relative to the environmental damage caused, there has been no net gain, only the loss of 90% of this Iconic species and with it a healthy and sustainable food source which should be feeding the people of Scotland.

So, what if we took stock of the above and decided to try and restore populations to those seen in the past. If our aim today was feeding the population with salmon whilst ensuring spawning targets are met, is there anything we can do?
Well, after playing politics with both our environment and indirectly, our salmon for the past 100 years, finally we have now in place, certainly on our major rivers, people who understand and who’s sincere wish it is to do something to reverse the affects of the above. Various projects are underway across Scotland to this end. However, If salmon are to once again be a cheap and viable food source for the nation, the nation must first get behind the salmon.

Whilst we marvel in awe at the migration of the wildebeest across the vast Serengeti, or Emperor Penguins in Antarctica, compared to the migration of our own Salmon, both represent a mere walk in the park.

It’s sad to think of one of Scotland’s most Iconic creatures now so fragile, their populations near the brink. Although salmon angling across Scotland may be healthy, as a species and potential food source, the same cannot be said of our “Iconic” “King of Fish”!

On potential extinction of Species – Scientists say - “We must do what we can to protect habitat”! A quote made more than 100 years ago and still being used today!

Clean Water, Clean Gravel and Protection. Provision of those three will once again see those Iconic creatures thrive.