Spey

Spey Salmon Fishing Season Officially Opened

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The Salmon Fishing season was officially opened on the River Spey on a bright sunny morning. About 200 people gathered at by Penny Bridge in Aberlour to watch the traditional ceremony which was opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Lt.-Col Grenville Johnston OBE OStJ TD. A blessing was given by Rev. Bob Anderson and a bottle of Aberlour Single Malt Whisky was poured into the fast flowing River Spey to bring luck to those in pursuit of the elusive spring salmon by last year’s Anniversary Quaich Winner, Evelyn Glass. The Spey Fishery Board would like to thank Aberlour Distillery, Walkers Shortbread and Aberlour Bespoke Catering for their generous continued support.


SFB Director, Roger Knight (Centre) welcomes everyone to the Opening Ceremony accompanied by Lt. Col Grenville Johnston OBE OStJ TD (Right) and Rev. Bob Anderson (Left).

Last year’s Anniversay Quaich winner, Evelyn Glass pours Aberlour whisky into the spey accompanied by Alan Sinclair, Piper and Lt. Col. Grenville Johnson watched by many keen anglers, ghillies and visitors.

Above - Piper, Alan Sinclair

 

 

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Run timing changes: evidence from netting catches on Tweed and Spey

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Despite the onset of social media the river reports in the Trout & Salmon magazine are still an important source of information and there are usually some revealing insights into thinking across the country. I note for example that this month the Tweed correspondent is still hanging on to some hope that the back-end run will re-appear this year. History suggests that he will be disappointed.

As evidence to support that assertion I am going to present below a series of slides showing the catches from the Sandstell netting station, which was operated at the mouth of the Tweed and the Raik nets on the Spey. The Raik nets were mainly net & cobble nets which operated in the lower few miles of the Spey mainstem. But before presenting those catches here is a graph showing the Spey rod catch split into spring salmon (to end of May), summer salmon and grilse from 1952 to 2017 (Data from Marine Scotland Science and Spey Fishery Board (since 2002)).

Trends in Spey rod catch 1952 to 2017. The most stable component of the stock has been the summer salmon. The spring catch passes all three NASCO tests with 2016 and 2017 well up the list of recent catches. It was only the wet September of 2017 that saved the autumn component from failing all three tests. This failure of tests 2 & 3 show that the reduction in the autumn catch is not a recent phenomenon. The reduction in the autumn catch is mainly as a result of the decline in the grilse catch. There is a difference of almost 3,000 between the recent five year average grilse catch and the peak of the early 1990s.

The collapse of the spring catch in 1981 was matched with an upsurge in the grilse catch. The grilse catch exceeded the spring salmon catch from 1982 until 2009. It is as if they can’t be in the same room at the same time. [/caption]

Below are the decadal catches from the Tweed and Spey netting stations with the catches split into salmon and grilse and expressed as a percentage of the total by month. The whole series will be presented one after the other with additional comment at the end. The Tweed catches are shown in the left graph and the Spey on the right. The sequence starts in the 1850s and ends in the 1980s.













There are some minor differences between the two rivers but the overall pattern is similar over a period of 140 years. The most noticeable change is the dominance of spring catches in the 1920 and 1930s. There was evidence of an increasing spring catch from 1900 and this lasted until the 1950s. This increase in the spring catch was offset with a decline in the grilse catch. This shows that when changes in run timing occur they tend to be long lasting and, based on this analysis, occur over large geographical areas. Tony George in his seminal PhD on cyclical changes in run timing in Scotland considered that the rivers from the Findhorn to the Tweed followed the same trends concurrently and this analysis supports that.

When I was making these graphs it occurred to me that whilst the Spey Raik net catches in the Spey in the 1970s showed low spring catches the spring rod catches in the 1970s were great (see below and first graph).

Until I had completed this analysis I was working under the impression that it was the nets that provided the best sample of the run and that the rod catch was biased for a variety of reasons. The netting effort data shows that in 1972 there was a 25% reduction in the number of crews operating in the spring months and this maintained until the 80s. This 25% reduction in effort is likely to have had a lesser impact on catches as no doubt the least profitable crew/station would have been cut first. What I take from this is that if you want to understand the characteristics of the run at any particular time you have to utilise all the data available.

Summary
Salmon run timing changes occur in a predictable cyclical way (or at least it has until now).
When changes occur they can last for decades.
The main change is a swing in the relative proportions of spring salmon and grilse, the two are never present in abundance at the same time.
These changes occur over large geographical areas at similar times, although there are always differences from river to river.
We have been losing the grilse run for a number of years; there will be year to year variation, but based on historical evidence there is little prospect of an upturn in grilse catches in the the immediate future.
The stage is set now, will the spring run deliver?

Thanks to Dr. Ronald Campbell, Tweed Foundation, for access to the Tweed nets data.

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Spey Conservation Policy 2018

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Scottish legislation requires that all salmon caught before the 1st April must be released. In order to protect the integrity of the Spey stock and to maximise their spawning potential, the Spey Fishery Board’s policy is that all fish caught up to and including the 31st May should be released alive. A copy of the 2018 Spey Conservation policy can be downloaded here.

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Spey mainstem surveys update

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After eight days of surveying we finished the Spey mainstem salmon fry index surveys today (below Spey dam at least). We usually leave the sites above Spey Dam for a couple more weeks so the results from there will follow in due course.

53 sites were surveyed although only 51 are reported below. The two other sites are an additional site introduced at Kinchurdy in 2015 and an alternative Aviemore site surveyed for the first time today. The results from the Aviemore site will be discussed below these sites are not presently part of our routine reporting network.

The Spey 2012 - 2016 salmon fry index survey classification scheme and the 2017 salmon fry counts are shown in the tables below.

Spey salmon fry index fry and parr classification scheme (based on 442 Spey surveys completed 2012 to 2016).

 

Of the 51 surveys only four were not in the good or excellent categories. The two sites in the low category were the perennial low fry count site at Phones and the site closest to Spey Dam.

The mean salmon fry count for sites downstream of Spey Dam in 2017 was 32.5/min, the highest mean count recorded during the six year monitoring period. This situation was not unexpected; there were good numbers of spawning fish in the mainstem last year and flows during the critical incubation period were benign. We have yet to do a mainstem survey, downstream of Spey Dam, where no salmon fry were found, but to find such consistently high numbers is unprecedented. The relatively high abundance of fry at present is readily observed by anyone who takes a few steps along the shallow margins. Fry are only the building blocks but our monitoring shows that high fry counts are usually followed by high parr counts in subsequent years; barring population limiting or regulating, events.

These surveys are primarily to assess the salmon fry population but we also catch parr. In 2016 the parr counts were published in the same format for the first time with similar colour coding based on 20% bands.

We start these surveys in the lower river, working upstream, and during the first day or two parr were notable by their relative absence. As we progressed upriver the parr counts improved with some sites producing their highest parr counts (Ballindalloch through Tulchan in particular). The mean parr count (downstream of Spey Dam) is just below average for the sequence, with the lower river counts probably reflecting the lower fry counts in that part of the river in 2016. The Phones sites may be a low fry count site but it is often above average for parr, as was the case in 2017. We noticed in 2015, another year with low parr counts in the lower river, the fry grew well, well enough that a proportion would reach the size threshold to become a one year old smolt. This is likely to happen again this year, although the future viability of young, and small, smolts is probably not as good as the normal older and larger type.

Most of the sites surveyed are considered to provide good or excellent habitat for fry, but not all. One example of a site where the habitat is categorised as parr in the Aviemore site S195L1. However, despite the poor habitat we still caught 53 salmon fry in three minutes today; even the poor areas of the Spey support decent numbers this year.

S195L1 survey site at Aviemore. The substrate is mainly sand/pebbles with the sampling done in little runs between weedy mounds. (Photo credit Sean Robertson)

There are few suitable run/riffle habitat sites in this part of the river but we did survey a new site today 1,500m further upstream. The habitat here was excellent resulting in a catch of 224 salmon fry, the highest count from any site this year. It is good to see that suitable habitat is being well used as fry produced in these small patches of good habitat will help populate the entire stretch with parr.

The new Aviemore site surveyed today. The substrate and fast, shallow, flows are ideal for salmon fry. The results from this site have been filed but are not presently used as part of the routine monitoring. (Photo credit Sean Robertson)

It was good to complete the mainstem surveys within a relatively short period during a period with consistent low water conditions. Our attentions will now turn to the Avon, and Livet, where we will repeat some of the surveys from last year to see if fry counts have recovered from the low values recorded in the wake of Storm Frank.

Incidentally volunteers are always welcome on these surveys. If you fancy a hard working day out in a beautiful part of the Spey catchment just get in touch.

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Spey electrofishing update

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The water butts on my greenhouse have been virtually full for the last month, due to frequent top-ups from heavy showers. Despite this the Spey, and tributaries, remain relatively low? Taking advantage of these good conditions for surveying we have cracked on with the electrofishing, mainly the timed salmon fry index surveys but also some quantitative surveys.

We have completed the repeat timed surveys of the Avon, and Livet, to assess the population after the very low counts last year in the Storm Frank aftermath. Today we also completed the salmon fry index surveys in the Fiddich and last night we hosted the annual ghillies outing to the two middle monitoring sites in the Burn of Tommore to assess the population of stocked salmon parr in that burn.

It has been a week of contrasts so far; on Tuesday we completed the upper Avon salmon fry index surveys where we usually find the sparsest salmon fry population and the smallest fry, and today we did the Fiddich where in 2014 we achieved out highest salmon fry counts.

The salmon fry index survey results for the Avon catchment are shown in the table below.

It was good to see that the salmon fry counts had recovered to a similar magnitude to those recorded in 2013. The overall pattern is the same with the highest counts in the lower reaches, declining with altitude. The contrast with the very low counts from last year are stark. Take the results from site TA15L1 for example, (this site is just above Greys Run towards the upper end of the Ballindalloch beats). Last year we could only catch 4.3 salmon fry per minute, or 13 during the three minute survey. This year, and in 2013, we managed to catch over 240 in three minutes.

The upper Avon counts are generally low, primarily in our view to low productivity. One interesting site, which was an anomaly in 2013 and in 2017 is site TA84L1, which is downstream of the Allt Loin Bheag. This tributary is only accessible to fish for a short distance and is therefore insignificant as a fish producer itself but it, along with other tributaries in the area, create a little pocket of productivity in an otherwise very low nutrient environment. In 2013 and 2017 the fry counts at this site were higher than those recorded in sites upstream and downstream. I also had a quick look at the mean size of fry from that site and found that they were 42mm compared to the low to mid 30mm for neighbouring sites.

A little green oasis. This tributary, which joins at the Avon at virtually 2000ft altitude is clearly more chemically rich than the Avon mainstem. In the vicinity of the confluence and for a short distance downstream the river bed supports mosses and, at this time of year, algae. This type of primary production must elevate the invertebrate population a little resulting in larger, and slightly more abundant fry.

The results from the Livet, one of the most productive of the Avon tributaries, were good with the fry counts four times higher than last year (Storm Frank affected).

Salmon fry index results from the Livet. 2016 was the first year that we did this type of survey in the Livet (except for a single survey in 2013) so there is not much of a baseline but the fry counts in 2017 were all in the good to excellent categories with one site in the super abundant category! The mean fry count in 2017 was more than four times higher than in last year.

Today we intended to have a relaxed day and I would have been happy to have made a good start on the Fiddich salmon fry index surveys. However, we were on a roll and in the end we completed all the monitoring sites in the Fiddich, with some pretty impressive results.

The mean fry count in 2017 was lower than in 2014 but the size and biomass of fry present in the sites downstream of Dufftown was incredible. As with the Livet all the Fiddich fry counts were in the good or excellent category with one coloured blue (reserved for counts greater than 100 per minute).

The record sheet for the site below the Balvenie warehouses is shown below (with one of the upper Avon sites for comparison).

Salmon fry index survey record sheet for the Fiddich at Balvenie and the Avon at Faindouran. Hopefully readers will be able to make out the figures. In the Fiddich site we caught 316 salmon fry (in three minutes), excellent but the most remarkable feature was the size of the fry. The largest was over 100mm (to be confirmed by scale reading) with all sizes from 50mm to over 95mm represented. A few large parr were also captured. The growth exhibited by the salmon fry in this Fiddich site means that many will potentially be large enough to smolt as one year olds; if they survive the winter. There were about 5 large fry per square metre of the river bed and with such a huge concentration of prey it was a wonder the place wasn’t infested with predators. Note the small size of the upper Avon fry in comparison, in fact all the Avon site parr, some of which could be three year old, were smaller than the largest of the Fiddich fry, which were only months old. Jim and I have a few years electrofishing experience between us and we agreed that what we witnessed today was unparalleled. There are reasons for this exceptional productivity of course: the temperature of the Fiddich is elevated by all the distillery discharges upstream and there may also be organic enrichment. Whether this is a good thing or not remains to be seen.

 

A jumbo salmon parr of 147mm from the Fiddich today.

Yesterday evening we completed the remaining two monitoring sites in the stocked Burn of Tommore. Readers will no doubt be aware of the Tommore project. The Tommore is inaccessible to migratory salmonids due to an impassable road culvert and has been stocked since 2012, From 2013 it has been stocked with fin-clipped 0+ salmon parr from the Sandbank Hatchery. The monitoring results from the remaining two sites last night were the best recorded there over the last four years with the salmon parr density at one of the sites reaching 34.5/100m2; high enough to make it into the excellent category in the SFCC Moray Firth Classification scheme.

The mean salmon parr density in the Tommore Burn was almost twice as high a recorded in previous years, with improved densities at all four sites. Explanations for this good result from the Tommore stocking were discussed last night. The trout parr density has remained relativity stable since 2013 but the number stocked in the burn in the autumn of 2016 had been reduced. Perhaps this is a case of less means more? Another factor could be that the number of smolts trapped in 2017, as they emigrated from the burn, was the lowest over the three years of trap operation so it is possible that a higher proportion had remained in the burn for an additional year . although the size distribution didn’t suggest that was the case.

 

Electrofishing survey sheet from site SA1b in the Burn of Tommore. 29 salmon parr were caught at this site. Note the absence of salmon fry due to the impassable culvert downstream.

The Burn of Tommore appears to be supporting a good population of stocked salmon parr this summer; based on that we would expect the number of smolts to higher next year, potentially significantly higher.

 

 

 

 

 

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Spey salmon fry index mainstem surveys 2017

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Conditions have been perfect this week for the mainstem salmon fry index surveys, low water being one of the most desirable factors. Therefore we started the 2017 surveys on Monday making good progress reaching as far upstream as Tulchan by the end of play today. The salmon fry index surveys consist of 3 minute timed surveys, primarily in shallow run riffle habitat although for continuity and historical reasons some of the sites are equally suited to parr. We try to do these surveys at the same time of year keeping as many variables as consistent as possible e.g. same sites, staff and equipment.

The draft results to date for salmon fry are shown in the table below (for those not familiar with the colour coding black is absent, red the bottom 20%, followed by amber, yellow, light green, with dark green for the top 20% of Spey results 2012 to 2016)

Spey mainstem salmon fry index results to date. The results from the lower half of the river have been good with all sites in the moderate to excellent categories. The mean salmon fry count from the sites surveyed so far is the highest in the sequence. Tulchan D remains the only site with 100% dark green classification, although the counts were actually below average for that site today, perhaps a consequence of the unusually good parr counts (see below). (Note that the Phones & Lower Pitchroy sites have still to be surveyed)

These initial results are encouraging although not unexpected following an excellent spawning and relatively benign flows overwinter. The 8ft spate in early June does not seem have had too much of an impact; thankfully. A feature this year is the consistency of the results, perhaps this is a consequence of the spate which may have evened out the distribution of the fry from their initial clumped distribution arising from proximity to the redds.

The situation for parr is a bit different with low parr counts in the lower reaches, improving greatly as we progressed upstream.

Spey salmon fry index parr counts. Although these surveys are primarily intended to assess salmon fry parr are also captured. Parr were notable by their relative absence in the lower sites but from Aberlour upstream the results are much better. The salmon parr counts from two of the four Tulchan sites were the best recorded with results from the other two being the second highest. The low parr counts in the lower sites are likely to be a consequence of the low fry counts in the river downstream of the Avon confluence in 2016 - remember Storm Frank?

 

A sample of the typical mixed catch of fry and parr from the Tulchan, Ballindalloch and Knockando sites today.

The June 2017 spate may not have affected fry counts too severely but large scale riverbed movements were apparent almost everywhere downstream of the Avon. The locations of one or two of the survey sites has to be moved slightly due to the riverbed movements. This is not critical with this type of survey where we follow the habitat rather than fixed landmarks. At other sites the surveys may have been completed in the same location but the habitat had changed due to sediment deposition.

Recent deposits of cobbles in a survey site at Knockando. These fresh looking cobbles are recent arrivals, formerly this site was dominated by boulder habitat, some of which protrude above the new cobbles. It was much easier wading than usual today but these cobbles are likely to move during the next few spates.

 

It doesn’t take long for nature to colonise empty habitat as can be seen by the number of simuliidae larvae on this recently deposited rock.

Few trout have been recorded so far during these surveys, no surprise as they generally spawn in the tributaries, but there does seem to be more eels than in recent years. In the first two sites elvers were present in abundance with the size distribution increasing quickly as we progressed upstream. The concern regarding low eel numbers in recent years seems to have abated a little, which in my view is a good thing. I like to see everything in the river doing well, well nearly everything! Eels, like salmon, are ocean migrants, and whilst their life cycles are quite different both species depend on the health and suitability of a range of different habitat types.

Ultimately today turned out to be a good day; we made good progress with our surveys, spent some quality time with the new Tulchan factor and ghillies and there were lots of juveniles to be counted. Not bad at all considering I was on the point of going back to bed when I got up this morning. A summer cold is a bind but once I was up and about it was forgotten about. I even did some maintenance on the pick-up tailgate - it shuts now, the old 3 in 1 is great stuff.

 

 

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Spey Pupils catch up with their salmon!

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Earlier this year three local schools successfully raised, released and recaptured salmon as part of the Spey Foundation’s popular ‘Salmon in the Classroom’ education programme, which is kindly sponsored by Walkers Shortbread of Aberlour. The three primary schools within the Spey Catchment who took part were from Grantown on Spey, Newtonmore and Kingussie. Each school was given the opportunity to look after salmon eggs in their classroom, and watch them hatch and develop into alevins. Once the alevins had reached the appropriate stage, the pupils released them into local burns in February this year.

After allowing the salmon to grow and develop in the burns for a few months, Spey Foundation staff, Brian Shaw, Steve Burns and Jim Reid returned in mid-June to show the pupils how the salmon changed into fry by carrying out electrofishing in the area where they were released.

Teacher, Patricia Brown from Grantown Primary School said, “Everyone loved the electrofishing experience.” Pupils were also given an invertebrate sampling demonstration to show the different insects living within the river.

Previous years have shown this experience is not one easily forgotten, many of them expressed excitement at the idea of one of ‘their’ salmon being caught by anglers in the future.

The Spey Foundation and the Spey Fishery Board are very grateful to Walkers Shortbread for their continued support with our education programme.

Steve Burns giving a presentation to Grantown on Spey pupils.

Pupils are given a safety briefing on the use of the electrofishing equipment

Steve Burns, assisted by Jim Reid and Brian Shaw, electrofish the Kylintra Burn near Grantown on Spey with pupils eager to see their salmon again!

 

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Controls on river temperatures in the Spey

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Over the last two years we have assisted Marine Scotland Science with the maintenance and download of some of the Spey catchment temperature loggers. The loggers are downloaded twice a year, in the spring and autumn with the data emailed to the Freshwater Lab in Pitlochry.

Steve trying to unbolted the temperature logger on a chilly day in the River Fiddich. Some of the loggers are bolted to iron bars hammered into the riverbed (including this one), whilst others are tethered to land anchors on the riverbank.

Faye Jackson has coordinated this programme to date as part of her PhD. Faye, in conjunction others, has just published a paper on a modelling approach to predicting summer temperatures in the River Spey catchment. The paper investigated which factors were most influential for measurements such as the minimum, and maximum, 7 day average temperatures and the mean daily temperature. See Jackson FL, Hannah DM, Fryer RJ, Millar CP, Malcolm IA. Development of spatial regression models for predicting summer river temperatures from landscape characteristics: Implications for land and fisheries management.

The paper shows that the factors likely to be predictors of the 7 day average minimum and mean temperatures were elevation, % riparian woodland cover and gradient. The relationship for all three was negative e.g. higher altitude generally means lower temperatures. No surprise there although keep reading for some interesting findings. It was the same relationship for woodland cover and gradient with higher levels of woodland cover and steeper gradients resulting in lower minimum and mean values. Interestingly the riparian woodland effect was only noticeable if the woodland cover exceeded 40%, a relatively high degree of cover.

The Spey is a well wooded river. Image from publication (source given above).

For Tmax, or the maximum 7 day average, river width and a factor called the River Network Smoother (RNS) - the details of which I won’t bore you but you can read all about it in section 2.4.2. of the report, but it is about the relationship of one part of the river with another! It was surprising to read that the percentage woodland cover was not one of the main factors affecting maximum temperature in this study.

The areas of the catchment where the highest maximum temperatures are predicted are at opposite ends of the catchment; the lower mainstem and above Spey Dam. That the high altitude reaches above Spey Dam should turn out to be one of the areas most prone to prolonged high temperatures is perhaps surprising, given its high altitude, but it is a wide and shallow river up there, and virtually devoid of any riparian trees cover. The paper suggests that woodland cover is most effective where channel widths are narrow, the gradient low and that the direction in which the river runs would maximise the impact of any shading. Presumably east-west orientation would be best with shading on the south bank.

The upper reaches of the Spey above Spey Dam. Salmon are found here, although not in high density due to the hydro scheme below. It is utterly devoid of native woodland and during a hot spell it is easy to see how the water temperatures could soar.The highest temperature recorded in 2015 in the Spey logger network was in one of the upper Spey sites.

If the salmon population above Spey Dam could be restored, and that is possible given the will, it should perhaps be accompanied by a programme of tree planting in the most beneficial areas. Despite the papers conclusion that tree cover is not one of the most important factors influencing maximum temperature there are other benefits from tree planting, such as tree litter and fish cover - its not all about shading.

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Spey 2016 electrofishing report

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The Spey expends considerable resource on monitoring each year, mainly by juvenile surveys (electrofishing) and smolt trapping. This is an important activity for a river of the Spey’s stature; it is essential that management decisions are based on an informed understanding of the status of juvenile stocks in the river.

In 2016 we completed the Spey mainstem annual salmon fry index surveys as well as year 2 rota tributaries, primarily the Avon and Truim. The major event affecting juvenile stocks in 2016 was the extreme high flows that hit the east of the catchment during Storm Frank but also in early January when even higher flows occurred in the Livet. The 2016 electrofishing report can be found here.

In the mainstem the salmon fry counts downstream of the Avon were about half of the previous year but upstream they were close to average upstream of the Avon confluence, with particularly good results from the upper river in the area from Spey Dam to Kingussie. Upstream of Spey Dam salmon fry were limited in distribution and for the first timed more prevelent in the very upper reaches and almost absent in the usual area upstream of the dam. The salmon parr counts in the mainstem were good, the highest on average if the impacted and volatile results from above Spey Dam are excluded. A high proportion of these parr were large enough to smolt in 2017.

The area of most concern was in the Avon where the mainstem salmon fry index surveys revealed a dramatic decline in the fry counts with lesser. although still concerning, declines in the parr. In the Avon tributaries the situation was better with good salmon parr densities. The status of the juvenile trout population in the Avon continues to be good. Given the significance of the Avon the intention is to repeat the Avon mainstem salmon fry index surveys in 2017, along with some of the tributary sites to establish if the juvenile stocks have recovered naturally.

The results from the Truim also exhibited a reduction compared to 2013 but it is important to distinguish between fluctuations in juvenile densities and long term trends. 2013, the last year when the Avon and Truim were surveyed in detail were years with high juvenile stock status. The declines noted in 2016 are explainable; the extreme high flows being the most likely cause resulting in redd washout. In 2015 the comparison with the results from the 2012 monitoring cycle were good with fry and parr densities up in almost all of the tributaries monitored.

In the 2016 burns monitored (those flowing directly into the Spey) the situation was one of stability with little change compared to the same sites when surveyed in 2013. This suggests that the impact of the high flows was higher in the larger watercourses, where stream power is so much greater.

Overall, whilst the winter spates had an impact the situation is relatively good, especially in comparision to other rivers. It is worth recording that declines in salmon fry densities/counts in 2016 were not restricted to the Spey, news regarding declines in Welsh rivers even made the BBC website. The reasons for the widespread nature of these low fry counts are likely to be varied (high temperatures were suggested as a potential cause in Wales).

Our understanding of the status of juvenile stocks in the Spey remains at a high level. In 2017 the major tributaries surveyed will be the Fiddich, Feshie, Tromie and Calder, as well as the annual salmon fry index surveys in the Spey mainstem.

 

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Spey Catchment Initiative Update 2016

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The Spey Catchment Initiative Update for 2016 newsletter has been published and is now available to download here. The update includes information on the following topics:

 

  • 2016 UK River Prize Award
  • Reconnecting Disconnected Side Channels - Aviemore
  • 2016 River Spey Catchment Management Plan
  • Growing Riparian Woodlands
  • Salmon Go to School
  • Demonstrating Green Engineering Techniques
  • Tomintoul and Glenlivet Landscape Partnership (TGLP)
  • About The Spey Catchment Initiative (SCI)
  • Looking to the Future

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