Spring salmon stocks are in decline because too much water is being removed from the River Spey, experts claimed last night.
Catch figures in August revealed a near-50% fall in the number of salmon caught between February and June this year – 2,000 fish against 3,800 in the same period last year.
Spey Fishery Board director Roger Knight said water abstraction for commercial interests was the “biggest single threat that we face in the River Spey”.
The fears came to light after a major energy company announced plans to use the River Spey to replenish the dried-up River Garry, a former spring salmon river in Tayside that was destroyed in the 1930s to 1950s by the development of hydro power.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has applied to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) for permission to divert water from the Spey to return flows to the Garry.
More than 150 people have responded to a consultation on the proposals. The agency is considering responses and a decision is expected shortly. Sepa’s unit manager in Perth, Brian Roxburgh, said serving the interests of all water users was a “fine balancing act”.
The Rio Tinto Alcan company in Fort William extracts water from the River Spey to generate electricity for its Lochaber smelter. Compensation water is returned from the dam. A spokesman said the firm took its environmental responsibilities “very seriously”, and advice on best practice on salmon stocks had been sought from Stirling University. He said the firm would meet Spey Fishery Board and Sepa on November 24 to discuss the issue.
Spey Fishery Board director Roger Knight said last night that he had long-running concerns over water abstraction. He added: “It’s taking too much water out of the river, preventing salmon from reaching their spawning grounds and smolts from reaching the sea.”
River Spey Anglers Association (RSAA) chairman Mel McDonald said: “It will come as a surprise to a lot of people that water abstraction is a problem. It’s been happening on the Spey for many years but because of the growth of places like Aviemore there are increasing demands for water supplies.” RSAA group treasurer Graeme Mackenzie said it was “most certainly an issue”. He added: “We certainly would not want to see any more abstraction of the Spey. The river has the greatest abstraction levels of all the rivers in Scotland.”
RSAA members were recently surveyed on their fishing experiences on the River Spey, and 165 people responded.
Overall, more than 70% said fishing on the Spey was an “enjoyable experience”. However in relation to catches, almost 50% said they had a “negative” angling experience this year, while almost 40% said their fishing trip was not value for money.