We've bought a river to bring back our dying salmon

Committee members Peter Lock, David Hogg and River Convener Grant Kellie hope the river purchase leads to salmon recovery

A group of anglers have bought a four-mile stretch of the River Ericht in Perthshire, to try and improve water conditions that are harming endangered salmon.

The river, which runs through the town of Blairgowrie, is a key spawning tributary in the River Tay system.

But the Blairgowrie Rattray and District Angling Association (BRDAA), who have been fishing in the area for a century, says there is a history of water extraction for industrial purposes and salmon stocks are falling due to low water levels.

The club hopes their buy-out from previous owner Macpherson Fishing will increase their lobbying power to the Scottish government.

Salmon stocks are falling in rivers across the country with rod catch numbers at their lowest level since 1952, according to the latest Scottish government figures.

The River Ericht however has a problem with water abstractions which make it more difficult for the fish to swim upstream - as low waters make stressed fish more susceptible to predators such as birds.

The BRDAA said use of the river by mill lades and a fish farm over time has reduced flows along with Victorian-age weirs which are now falling into disrepair, starving the river of water in dry spells.

Following the official handover of the four-mile stretch of river on Saturday, the group said it would leave "no stone unturned" to help species recovery on the Ericht - which is part of a European Special Area of Conservation for salmon.

Anglers in the group carry out a range of work on the river each year, from litter picks and tree planting to managing invasive species on the river banks.

They also monitor salmon stock and, now that they own a larger stretch of the river, they expect their data will give them greater clout when making arguments to the Scottish government.

Jamie Macpherson of Macpherson Fishing takes the first ceremonial cast after the stretch of river was handed over

The BRDAA said it had been "encouraged" by catches to date this year, with 38 landed from the Ericht and returned to the water mostly during the key spring run.

But river convener Grant Kellie, who is also a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association's fishing group, said he had seen salmon stranded and dying on the Ericht.

He said: "Water abstraction has a detrimental effect on the movement of fish, whether juveniles or adult salmon heading upstream so we need to keep the flows more regular.

“This is not just an issue on the Ericht. I believe there are about 260 rivers in Scotland which all have issues preventing the easy passage of migratory fish.

"The Scottish government needs to step up at this moment in time and get this implemented so we can get the fish back to where they should be.

"The national salmon strategy is not working, at the moment.

"Now that salmon are on the endangered list, how long does the species have?”

Critical for salmon

The club, which started in 1924 to encourage angling in the area now has around 300 members and officials are hopeful that, with action, there can be rejuvenation.

The four miles of the river were officially handed over during a ceremony on the banks on Saturday, with Jamie Macpherson of Macpherson Fishing taking the first ceremonial cast.

George Thomson from the SGA Fishing Group, said: “BRDAA deserves great credit for taking this step at a critical time for our salmon. It demonstrates the passion hard working local people have for the species and a way of life.”

The Scottish government said it was clear that populations of Atlantic salmon were at "crisis point" and its wild salmon strategy committed to protecting and restoring populations.

A spokesperson said: "We’ve set out over 60 actions to be taken over the next five years by government and our delivery partners to tackle the wide range of pressures salmon face in the freshwater, coastal and marine environment.

“In the first year since publication, work to deliver more than 50 of these actions has progressed, as highlighted in the recently published progress report. This includes investment of over £1.25m from the Scottish government in 2023 for the protection and recovery of wild salmon.”