2022 Season Catches Analysis

Fishing

Fishing Seasons

Catch returns are the main indicator of adult run size available for the Ness system. Catch statistics are collected annually by Marine Scotland Science (MSS). DSFBs are also able to collect data directly from proprietors twice per year. The size of the run can be used as a measure of its status by comparing the annual run against a long-term average. The data used throughout this section are Crown copyright, used with the permission of MSS, who are not responsible for interpretation of these data by third parties.

2022 National (Scottish) Salmon Catch

Overall, the number of Atlantic salmon caught by Scottish fisheries in 2022 was greater than the previous year.

  • The total reported rod catch of wild salmon for 2022 is 42,204, the fourth lowest since 1952. This is an increase of 16% compared to 2021, and 96% of the previous five-year average.
  • Catch and release in 2022 accounted for 97% of the total rod catch and 99% of the rod caught spring multi sea-winter fish (taken before 1 May).
  • Reported spring catch in 2022 increased by 52% on the coronavirus (COVID-19) affected 2021 season and was 122% of the previous five-year average.

Latest Ness District Salmon Rod Catches

Ness district rod catch, salmon and grilse (1952 to 2020)

2022 was the first full season of angling since pre-Covid. The reported combined salmon and grilse rod catch for the 2022 season was 837, the best since 2018.

Ness district rod catch of salmon (1952 to 2022)

There was a slight upturn in the catch of salmon, much of this accounted for by the increase in the spring catch (see below).

Ness district grilse (one sea winter salmon) rod catches (1952 to 2022)

The 2022 grilse catch was 388, higher than the five-year average and ten-year average and continuing the trend of higher grilse catches over the last few decades. The issue with the grilse is that the run seems to be becoming more compressed with a rapid decline in the run from mid-August on.

Ness district spring salmon rod catches (1952 to 2022)

Since 2011, the trend in the spring catch (to the end of May) has been positive, although interrupted in 2020/21 due to Covid, which restricted angling in the spring. The 2022 spring catch was the third highest since the late 90s, although increased angling effort in the upper spring fisheries may have had an influence.

Latest Ness District Sea Trout Rod Catches

Nowadays the Ness Sea trout catch is a shadow of its former abundance. The 1960s produced huge catches of sea trout, declining in the 70s, although the average annual catch from 1970 to 1999 was over 450. From 2000 to 2022, the average annual catch slumped to 79, a figure just exceeded in 2022 with a catch of 81. The Ness is not alone in suffering from a decline in sea trout catches; the reasons for this decline are not understood, but sea trout are considered to be a coastal marine fish, rather than an oceanic species like Atlantic salmon. This suggests that the reasons are closer to home, but may also be related to freshwater smolt production, rather than entirely as a result of lower marine survival.

Latest Ness District Salmon Net Catches

Many of the original salmon netting stations in the Ness district were ‘bought out’ by the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust (ASCT) in the 1980. This resulted in a significant reduction in the total numbers of net caught salmon reported in the district. Those remaining are net and coble fisheries, which use a ‘sweep net’ paid out from a boat and worked from the shore.

Total Ness district net salmon catches (salmon and grilse combined) (1952 to 2022)

The former dominance of the nets as exploiters of salmon gradually waned during the 20th century, mainly also as a consequence of declining catches, regulation and buy outs by angling interests. The netting industry within the Ness District was substantial, as can be seen from the graph below. In the late 1980s, many of the netting stations were bought out by the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust, this resulted in a significant reduction in the net catch within the district. Some “net & coble” stations remained operational but for a number of years annual agreements between the Ness Board and the two main netting operators ensured that the number of fish taken by the nets remained low, or were zero from 2013 onwards. The designation of the Ness as a Category 3 river, followed by Covid interruptions maintained the netting moratorium. However, in 2022 one of the netting stations operated for the last four weeks of the season taking a significant number of fish. Although barely registering on the graph above, in comparison to previous catches, the Board regard this as a significant development. At the time of publication positive discussions with the two main netting stations regarding a permanent buy-out of the netting rights are ongoing.

 

Catch Summary

Although salmon catches may have improved slightly in 2022, they still remain low in a historical context. The situation is much more complex that the catch figure though. The late running fish, for which the River Ness was famous, have declined severely, as they have in every river in Scotland. This change in the runs affects catches in the lower beats in particular.

There are signs that the spring run has at least stabilized and there may be signs of improvement. Despite the decline of the late running fish one beat in the upper reaches of the Ness had its best season since 2010. There were good flows during the smolt run period in 2021 and 2022, which should have increased survival to the sea in those years.