1. sports
2. fishing

The River Dee Brief
February 2015
Culter Dam Fish Pass Complete
On 3rd October 2014 a salmon ascended the Culter Dam at
Peterculter for the first time in over 250 years; the fish used
a fish pass installed just days earlier by the Board and Trust
that was funded by businessmen Martin Gilbert and Stewart
Spence, along with support from SEPA.
A Vaki infra-red fish counter is installed at the top of the
dam and indicates that 43 salmon and 69 sea trout have
ascended the dam last season. Salmon redds have been
found in the Culter Burn upstream of the fish pass, proving
fish ascending the pass are making good use of the newly
opened up habitat.
The fish pass installed on the Culter Dam
Culter Dam is the first and most important step in removing
four major obstructions and starting the restoration process
of the Culter catchment. Weirs further upstream, on the
Loch of Skene and Waterton Loch, were also barriers to
migratory fish. In 2014 the Board and Trust installed a fish
pass at the outflow of Loch of Skene, whilst work at
Waterton Loch involved the creation of a 40 metre bypass
channel for fish to travel around the dam.
We are working with landowners to ease the last significant
obstruction to fish in the Culter catchment. Once all habitat
restoration work is completed in the Culter catchment we
expect to see around 1,500 additional salmon returning to
the Dee each year.
The fish pass created on the Loch of Skene
outflow
For more information and up to date numbers of salmon
and sea trout using the fish pass visit our website
(www.riverdee.org.uk/projects/theculterburn.asp).
Infra-red image of the first salmon to
ascend the Culter Dam in over 250 years
Image taken by Vaki fish counter.
The bypass channel created at Waterton Loch
The River Dee Brief
2014 Catch Summary
It won’t have escaped any anglers that 2014 was a difficult year to catch a salmon. Catch reports indicate
a total salmon catch on the Dee of 3,570 fish last year, 25% below 2013 catches. The reduced catches
were seen throughout the year and were not restricted to the Dee; in fact, many Scottish rivers reported
even greater reductions in 2014.
Dee salmon catches
15000
Spring (1 Feb - 31 May)
Summer & Autumn (1 Jun - 30 Sep)
1 - 15 October
10000
5000
There was also a lack of salmon
returning to Icelandic rivers in
2014 – even the famous Ranga
Rivers’ catches were 45% below
the previous year – and such
widespread reductions indicate
high salmon mortalities out in
the North Atlantic.
2012
2007
2002
1997
1992
1987
1982
1977
1972
1967
1962
1957
1952
0
As highlighted by Professor Whelan at our Hatchery Seminar, numbers of salmon in the North Atlantic
have declined from around 10 million to 3.6 million since the 1970s and the finger points to climate
change – particularly changing ocean temperatures - as the main cause of this. Annual variation in ocean
temperatures may relate to the particularly poor year of 2014. So if ever there was a time to ensure large
numbers of healthy juvenile salmon smolts are going out to sea, this is it, as we expect only around 6% to
survive their journey through the ocean and make it back to our rivers.
Hatchery Seminar
On 4th December 120 people attended a Hatchery Seminar, held at Banchory Lodge Hotel, to discuss
whether a hatchery could or could not help the salmon stocks on the River. The evening was organised by
the Board in light of the disappointing 2014 catches. The evening was an informed debate with
presentations from experts about the pros and cons of hatcheries and was independently chaired by
A question
and owner
answerofsession
followed
chairman
summarised the key
Melfort
Campbell,
Altries Fishing
andand
chairman
of theRichard
AtlanticGledson
Salmon Trust.
messages: There is a need to improve the ability of the river to support young fish by improving the
A question and answer session followed and chairman Richard Gledson summarised the key messages habitat and therefore the river’s carrying capacity and whilst we cannot directly influence what is
there is a need to improve the River’s carrying capacity to support young fish through improving the
happening at sea we must continue to put as many healthy smolts to sea as possible.
habitat and, whilst we cannot directly influence what is happening at sea, we must continue to put as
many healthy smolts to sea as possible.
Presentations, minutes and non-technical summaries are available on our website (www.riverdee.org.uk).
The Board welcomes feedback and comments from the seminar and will review their policy on hatcheries
at their next meeting, looking at both sides of the argument. River open days are being planned this
spring to allow people to see the work of the Board and Trust first hand. Thank you to all the speakers and
to Banchory Lodge Hotel for hosting the evening free of charge.
The River Dee Brief
Bursary for the Next Generation of Ghillies
The Dee District Salmon Fishery Board bursary encourages people
to undertake a career on the River Dee by giving them a helping
hand to get both vocational qualifications and access to some of
the best fishing beats for work experience. The bursary will
continue this year and applications are now being accepted.
Craig McDonald was awarded the bursary last year and spent last
summer as a Ghillie at Cambus O'May. Craig is using the funds to
attend training courses to help him do the tasks required of a
Ghillie and further his future employment opportunities.
Since receiving the bursary Craig has completed a chainsaw course as well as safe pesticide use and
knapsack spraying. He is also working through the Scottish Game Angling Instructor Certificate to allow
him to help anglers on his beat. Craig says "the bursary is a great help with allowing people to achieve
their goals, and I’m really grateful for the funding, training and work experience it has provided me.”
Dee Fish Stocks
Multi-Sea Winter (MSW) salmon, which have spent at least two winters at sea, have traditionally formed
a strong component of the Dee's salmon population, both among the Spring salmon stock and the
summer salmon. Alongside these we also have grilse which have spent one winter at sea.
Why salmon spend different lengths of time at sea is partly due to where they go to feed – it takes longer
to get to feeding grounds around Greenland than those in the Norwegian Sea. Differing length of time at
sea is also a survival strategy that can be explained as: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. So if a severe
impact affects one of the age groups, adults from another age group still return to spawn that year.
Whilst the Dee is prized for spring salmon, it has been dominated by both grilse and spring salmon over
time. The Raik net fishery operated from 1872 until 1986 on the coast of Aberdeen and the catches
(shown below) show two periods dominated by grilse with low catches of early spring salmon. So it’s
apparent that the make-up of our stocks does change. At the moment MSW salmon dominate the Dee's
overall catches, although in the summer and autumn about half the catch is grilse. We can expect this to
continue to change and it is clear, with the current high marine mortality, it’s essential that all stock
components are protected so that we don’t put all our eggs in one basket.
15000
Number of fish
12000
Salmon
Grilse
9000
6000
3000
0
1872
1882
1892
1902
1912
1922
1932
1942
1952
1962
1972
1982
The River Dee Brief
Slainte Salar Salmon Painting
Lava Jewellery's Deeside
Collection
The new Deeside Collection by Lava Jewellery
has a range of unique pieces inspired by the
River Dee. The range includes earrings,
pendant necklaces, cufflinks and a diamond
ring. The range is now available in 18ct yellow
gold and a portion of the profits will be
donated to the River Dee Trust.
More information can
www.lavajewellery.co.uk.
be
found
at
Slainte salar has been created by Deeside artist Mel
Shand for the Dee Dram that will be available this
year. Limited edition prints are available directly from
Mel priced £100 unframed and £150 framed. Contact
Mel through her website (www.melshand.com) or by
email ([email protected]).
New and Future Legislation
Introduced in January 2015 are new statutory
measures that make it illegal to retain a salmon
before 1st April. Angling can still take place provided
that the salmon is released. A consultation is being
launched by Scottish Government to seek views on a
ban on killing wild salmon except under licence. The
ban would be accompanied with a carcass tagging
scheme to help enforcement. This measure would
apply to both anglers and nets and it is hoped the
new system would be in place for the 2016 season.
Currently on the Dee 98.5% of salmon are released
under the voluntary Conservation Code and we
welcome Scottish Government's intention to ensure
the exploitation of Atlantic salmon is sustainable.
What's On
2nd February - Fishing Season Opening
Ceremony, Potarch.
6th - 7th February - Banchory Beer Festival
presents Beer @ the Barn. 'Thunder &
Lightning', the first River Dee beer will be
launched,
more
information
at
www.banchorybeerfestival.com.
19th - 22nd March - Braemar Science
Festival, more information in the Braemar
Buzzard (www.braemarbuzzard.org.uk/).
Summer 2015 - Introduction to fishing
events, including sessions for under 16s and
a ladies' fishing day. If you are interested in
trying fly fishing contact the River Office.
Contact Us at the River Office: Mill of Dinnet, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire AB34 5LA
Tel: 01339 880411 Email: [email protected] Website: www.riverdee.org.uk
Twitter: @RiverDeeTeam
Facebook:www.facebook.com/TheRiverDee