Atlantic Salmon Species Action Plan

The River Clyde and its tributaries upstream of the Erskine Bridge constitute a large catchment area, which supports a substantial trout fishery.  Once it was also known for large numbers of migratory sea trout salmo trutta and atlantic salmon salmo salar, but many decades of pollution from local heavy industries practically exterminated both species until very recently.  This plan, whilst largely concerned with atlantic salmon, may serve to facilitate the sea trout and may form a basic programme for the entire Clyde catchment.  It is at an early stage and may require more detailed prescriptions for particular sub-catchments, including those in North Lanarkshire.

Current Status

The atlantic salmon, has, over the last 30 to 40 years, recolonised parts of the Clyde catchment in growing numbers, because of improvements in water quality, management work and access for anglers.  Some of the stretches where it can now be found had not held atlantic salmon since the start of the industrial revolution.  Whilst atlantic salmon stocks are declining seriously over much of Northern Europe and North America, those in the Clyde catchment appear to be thriving, with a slow but apparent increase in numbers of fish being reported.  Most riverine habitats are used, but the atlantic salmon requires clean headwater streams with suitable grades of gravel-bed for successful spawning, mainly in the autumn and early winter period. T he legislation covering the atlantic salmon is complex, tending to concentrate on the control of fishing activity rather than on the fish's habitat, or the ecological factors affecting water quality.  However the atlantic salmon (Fish Passes and Screens) (Scotland) Regulations 1994 does attempt to ensure that both atlantic salmon, sea trout and other migratory species have physical access to their spawning rivers and burns.  Other relevant acts include the atlantic salmon and Freshwater (Protection) (Scotland) Act 1951, the Freshwater and Atlantic Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976 and the Atlantic Salmon Act 1986.

Current Factors Causing (Potential) Loss

The complex life-cycle of the atlantic salmon involves numerous possible threats at every stage.  Young fish (parr and grilse) use different sections of the river system for two or more years, then migrate to the open ocean for a period of upto three or more years, then they return to spawn in the upper reaches.  The widespread decline in atlantic salmon stocks in Western Europe and other parts of Scotland may involve several of the following factors; some are outwith the scope of the action plan but may require lobbying at the appropriate levels:

• Increasing pollution at sea;
• Over-fishing at sea, especially seine - or drift-netting;
• Changes in temperature, currents or food items resulting from global warming;
• Increased toxicity from pesticides especially in the upper catchments in summer;
• Alterations in sex of some fish resulting from increased oestrogens in water.

Local factors may include:

• Obstruction to fish movement caused by weirs or culverts without fish passes of ladders;
• Loss of spawning areas because of silt deposition from drainage works, erosion or changes in river structure;
• Pollution from agriculture, industry and road and other hard surface run-off;
• Specific pollution incidents;
• Over-fishing, poaching and predation by mink, cormorants and goosanders;
• Influences caused by the introduction of non-native fish species, or diseases and parasites from farmed atlantic salmon.

Current Action

Historically most of the trout and atlantic salmon fisheries management issues are handled by a network of angling clubs whose atlantic salmon fishings are leased by the Crown Commissioners.  In 1984 the clubs initiated the formation of the Clyde River Fisheries Management Trust (CRFMT).  The trust co-ordinates fisheries management in each catchment and includes representation from the relevant local authority.  Within North Lanarkshire, this includes parts of the River Kelvin and the River Clyde on its southwestern boundary.  The angling clubs in this area are: the United Clyde Angling Protective Association (River Clyde from Bothwell Bridge to Garrion Bridge); the Waterside Angling Club (Luggie Water and Blairlinn Burn); the Kirkintilloch Angling Club (River Kelvin).  A system of bailiffs operates in these areas, but little work has been undertaken so far, in terms of improving the fish habitats.  However in South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, several obstructions have been removed during the 1990s.

Research Needs

Detailed scientific studies have not yet been carried out to:

• determine numbers of atlantic salmon present;
• suggest improvements to instream or bankside structures and habitats which could benefit atlantic salmon stocks;
• examine the influence of stocking policies and introduced genetic material on the longer-term population of the species.

Such studies will form part of the overall catchment area plan.  To this end the Clyde River Foundation was launched in August 1999, with the aim of employing a freshwater biologist to initiate and co-ordinate this research work.

Action plan objectives

Objective 1: Ensure that stocks of atlantic salmon (and sea trout) are maintained throughout the River Clyde catchment area;

Objective 2: Seek to carry out specific management work and research, which will benefit atlantic salmon in North Lanarkshire's rivers and streams.

Proposed actions with lead agencies

The following outline actions form an initial stage of amore detailed action plan for both atlantic salmon and sea trout in the river Clyde catchment.  It is expected that North Lanarkshire Council representatives will liaise with staff from adjacent local authorities, primarily East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City and South Lanarkshire Councils.  Better local links require to be maintained with the angling clubs listed above, and the RCFMT, through which contact may be achieved with the Association of West Coast Trusts.   On a regional and national scale, links require to be maintained with the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory, the Inspector of Atlantic Salmon Fisheries, the Crown Estates Office, SEPA, SNH, Scottish Water, the Clyde River Foundation and others interested, particularly riparian owners.

Actions

Abbreviations

CRFMT Clyde River Fisheries Management Trust
CRF Clyde River Foundation
FWAG Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
NFUS National Farmers Union Scotland
NLC North Lanarkshire Council
SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency
SW Scottish Water

Links with other action plans

Rivers, streams and lochs.  Floodplain grazing marsh. Otter, water vole.

Plan written by Matt Mitchell, United Clyde Angling Protective Association Ltd. and Jimmy McAloon, River Clyde Fisheries Management Trust.