A stocking programme for salmon has been in operation on the River Carron in Wester Ross since 1995 in an attempt to address the serious decline in the salmon population. (The local marine space is shared with Bakkafrost and Scottish Seafarms). Dramatically increased rod catches since 2004 would suggest a major recovery corresponding to this stocking effort. Robust scientific evidence is now necessary to evaluate the extent to which stocking has played in the recovery. Tissue samples in the form of fin-clips have been collected for DNA analysis since 2011 from all brood fish used in the stocking programme and rod caught adults returning to the river. This is to allow an evaluation to be made of what precise proportion of returning adults came from the stocking programme.
One single year has already been analysed (showing around a 40% contribution of stocked fish) but analysis of another 3 full years is required, which should give far more scientifically robust results. These findings will be of great significance to wild salmon managers and the efforts being made nationally to restore wild populations. Furthermore the study will also look at the relative successes of different stocking strategies (eggs, fry, parr or smolt) and will also analyse any potential genetic impact on the wild population as a result of the stocking. The project is in collaboration with UHI in Inverness and will report back at the end of 2024.
