Marine Scotland Science (MSS) has published its salmon and sea trout fishery statistics for the 2014 season. This information may be accessed from the Scottish Government website at:
https://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Publications/stats/SalmonSeaTroutCatches/2014
Total Reported Scottish Rod Catch
The total reported Scottish rod catch (retained and released) of wild salmon and grilse for 2014 was 45,175. To put this into perspective, the reported catch has dropped each year since its peak in 2010 when a total of 110,496 fish were reported, with 2014 being the second lowest since 1952 when the Scottish Government first started to record the data. The 2014 reported rod catch was 33 per cent lower than 2013 when a total of 67,468 fish were reported and 53 per cent of the previous five year average.
Comparison of the total annual Ness District catches with the National total (1989 to 2014)
Ness District Catches
Catch statistics are collected annually by MSS for all fishery districts in Scotland. In addition to this, district salmon fishery boards are able to collect data directly from proprietors twice per year, providing a ‘provisional’ catch for the season. The table below compares the 2014 MSS Ness rod salmon fishery statistics with those collected and reported by the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board (NDSFB) in January 2015.
Comparison of the 2014 MSS Ness rod salmon fishery statistics with those collected and reported by the NDSFB in January 2015
The MSS statistics reveal an extra 13 multi sea winter salmon reported for the season. This increases the total annual Ness district catch (salmon and grilse combined) from a provisional figure of 802 to a final figure of 815 fish. Although this is 12 per cent lower than the 930 fish recorded in 2013, the Ness system performed significantly better than many other rivers in 2014.
Total Ness District rod salmon catches (salmon and grilse combined) over the last 63 years (1952 to 2014)
The majority of the additional multi sea winter fish reported by MSS were ‘spring’ salmon. This raises the spring total catch (up to 31st May 2014) from a provisional figure of 192 fish to a final figure of 206 fish. This suggests that, although the ‘spring’ component is still in long-term decline, it is showing signs of improvement.
Ness District ‘spring’ MSW salmon catches (January to May) over the last 63 years (1952 to 2014)
