The report of the electrofishing surveys carried out by the Spey Foundation in 2015 is available to download by clicking here. This is a comprehensive report covering the results of the timed and density surveys. The summary and conclusion were:

Summary and Conclusions

• 60 salmon fry index timed electrofishing surveys were completed in the Spey mainstem with salmon fry were present in all sites downstream of Spey Dam.
• 82% of the Spey fry index sites, downstream of Spey Dam, were in the moderate to excellent categories.
• Upstream of Spey Dam salmon fry were found at 70% of the survey sites although all in very low or low categories.
• Salmon parr counts during the fry index surveys were down compared to 2013/14 with similar findings in the Spey mainstem density surveys.
• The salmon fry index surveys in the Dulnain found that although the counts were higher than recorded in 2012 there was no significant difference between 2012 and 2015.
• Salmon fry were found in all the Nethy index sites with the normal pattern of declining counts with altitude.
• The salmon fry index counts in the Luineag were in the moderate to good categories at all sites.
• In the Am Beanaidh the distribution of fry was atypical with higher counts found in the middle and upper sites. Channel instability in the lower reaches was highlighted.
• Overall statistically significant increases in densities of salmon, and trout, fry and parr were recorded at the sites surveyed in both 2012 and 2015.
• In the Dulnain density sites salmon and trout fry, and parr, were significantly higher than recorded in 2012.
• Monitoring of habitat restoration sites in the Dulnain catchment highlighted the value of such work, where opportunities exist, with improved fish densities in both diffuse pollution and morphological target areas.
• Annual monitoring of site in the upper Dulnain suggests that spawning stock abundance may limit production in more peripheral areas of the catchment.
• In the Nethy significant increases in salmon and trout fry, and trout parr, were recorded compared to 2012.
• In the Druie monitoring sites there were no significant differences in juvenile salmonid populations compared to 2012.
• In the burns monitoring sites only trout fry densities were significantly higher than recorded in 2012.
• Improved juvenile salmonid populations were recorded where fish passage improvements had been installed in the Mackalea and Broad Burns.
• Monitoring in the Tommore Burn continues to produce positive results with the smolt trap adding additional value and outputs.
• Parr densities recorded in 2015 in some sites were lower than recorded during recent surveys at the same sites however the parr present at these sites were of greater average size, highlighting the plasticity of the salmon lifecycle and their ability to cope with population disturbances.

The post Spey 2015 electrofishing report appeared first on Spey Fishery Board.

Spey Fishery Board