Tyne Angler Scale Sampling Programme. January 2011

[Editor]

The 2011 fishing season is now upon us and I do hope you will not forget to send in scales from the salmon and sea trout you catch. Last season we received 577, 437 from salmon and 138 from sea trout, and we’d like to achieve a similar sort of number this season, although, a few more sea trout samples would be ideal. Remember we want scales from fish of all sizes, not just the whoppers!

If you are uncomfortable in taking scales from a fish that is to be returned please just put it back. Our first concern must always be for the safe return of the salmon or sea trout without causing any extra stress. However, if you are taking the fish home, a few scales are not going to hurt it.

If you would like some scale packets or you know of anyone else who would further details of the Angler Scale Sampling Programme please send me an email.

Tagged salmon and sea trout

If you find a salmon with a green or yellow floy tag or a sea trout with a blue or yellow one (attached just beneath the dorsal fin), please note down the number and colour of tag before returning the fish and call the environmental monitoring team on 0141 203 4140. We use the green and blue tags on fish that we have sampled and CEFAS use yellow tags on the fish that they are tracking.

Counts

The upstream count for January was 0. As indicated in last week’s special bulletin we have incurred some problems with our counter at riding due to the spate on the 16th January. Fortunately, we were able to repair the counter last week and at 13:45 on 28th January it was switched back on. The upstream count so far February (latest download 01/02/2011 09:30) is 0. Further details of the daily, monthly and annual fish counts can be found following the link:

Environment Agency - River Tyne fish counts


As you can see on the chart above, the water heights and temperatures during January were quite variable (the gap in chart indicates the period when the gates were raised at Riding Mill to allow repairs to the fish counter). However, this is unlikely to have benefited fish passage for when the temperature was above 3.5°C (the temperature at which we start to see upstream counts), the river level was very high and likely to inhibit fish passage but when the levels drop sufficiently, the water temperatures also fall back and will likely inhibit passage also. The higher upstream counts for January have all occurred when the average monthly water temperature is 4°C or above and river levels have been relatively low.


Special Note:
On 16th January 2011, a spate damaged one of the channels of the our fish counter at Riding Mill and the counter was taken offline on the 17th. It was run for channels 1,3 & 4 from the 19th to the 25th. Our investigations were hampered due to the continuing high river levels, however, on the 25th we were able to get the radial gates raised get in to investigate. The radial gates were lowered on the Morning of the 28th after repairs were carried out and the counter will be up and running by the end of the afternoon on the 28th.

Whilst the gates were closed, 28 salmon and 3 sea trout were found in the basin above counter. The majority of the salmon were found were ready spawn or had spawned.


Morton

Morton Heddell-Cowie
Tyne Tunnel Monitoring Officer
Environment Agency

The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is supported by:

[Editor]

Only one scale sample has so far been sent in during February, coming from a salmon caught on the fourteenth of the month. This fish weighed 11lbs 8oz and measured 32 inches. Scale reading indicated that the fish was a 2.2, spending roughly two years in the river before leaving as a smolt during the spring of 2009. The fish returned to river during January or February this year as indicated by the formation of the second sea winter on the edge of the scale.

If taking scales from a fish that is to be returned is likely to cause it further distress, please just return it to the river. As always, our first concern must always be for the safe return of the salmon or sea trout. However, if you are taking the fish home, a few scales are not going to hurt it. The information we gather from this programme helps us understand the major components of the returning stock and that of the stock available for capture during the season. We do welcome scales from both fish returning to the river and fish preparing to leave the river.

If you would like further details of the Angler Scale Sampling Programme or would like to participate please send me an email.


Counts

The upstream count for February was 5, with a single count near the beginning of the month and remainder coming towards the end. This February’s count was the 8th highest in our records but was below the 5 year (10) and 15 year (14) averages. Further details of the River Tyne counts can be found on the following link

Environment Agency - River Tyne fish counts

The upstream counts occurred when the daily average river temperature exceeded 5°C. Surprisingly, the upstream count on the fifth occurred while the river was in spate; usually there is little activity from counter when river levels exceed 1.8m even when conditions are very mild. As indicated in December 2010’s update, upstream movement from late autumn to early spring is almost entirely temperature dependant, with fish generally moving when conditions become milder. Furthermore, unlike the summer, at this time of year upstream counts generally occur during the day and mainly in the early afternoon. However, it is not uncommon to record occasional count during the night, if temperatures are high enough.

If you are not already aware, we do have a system on the internet that will allow you to check river levels before you go out fishing. Please follow the link below:

Environment Agency - River and sea levels

The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is part of the Second Tyne Tunnel Monitoring Programme.

Morton

Morton Heddell-Cowie
Tyne Tunnel Monitoring Officer
Environment Agency

The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is supported by:

[Editor]

During March, 25 scale samples were received, all of which coming from salmon. All but two of these fish were caught downstream of our facility at Riding Mill. After aging, it was possible to split the fish into two broad age-class groups, 11 samples coming from salmon that could be described as spring fish (i.e. no evidence of any faster growth beyond the final sea winter and the edges of the scales being sharp and no sign of erosion) and 12 from fish that had returned to the river at some time during 2010 and were likely to be on there way back out to sea. It is worth remembering, these numbers only describe the salmon that were sampled and not all whole stock present in the river during March, as we are aware many salmon classed as kelts, rawners and baggots were not been sampled.

It was not possible to attribute ages to two samples, as all scales were replacements. When scales are lost, they are rapidly replaced but all detail of the fish’s growth prior to replacement is not recovered. In some cases, it is only the juvenile growth history that is lost, so it is possible to determine the sea age. However, in these cases all useable information was lost.

One of these salmon caught during March, weighed 18lbs and scale reading indicated that fish was a 1.3, spending approximately one year in the river before leaving as smolt during the spring of 2008. The fish returned to the River Tyne at some point during February or early March this year after spending 3 winters in the sea in preparation for spawning later this year.


Counts

The upstream count for March was 106, and was 2nd highest in our records. The highest daily counts during March occurred on 23rd and 24th with 17 and 16 being recorded respectively. The highest recorded count for March was 126 which was recorded in 2005. The 2011 count was over three times that of the 5 year average (33) and well over double the 15 year average (41.1). The upstream for year up to the end of March is 111.

Further details of the daily upstream counts for 2011 and historic monthly counts can be found by following the link below:

Environment Agency - River Tyne fish counts




If we look at the chart above we can see that almost all upstream counts were recorded after 21st March. The occurrence of these counts coincided with river temperatures increasing to above 6°C and river levels remaining quite moderate (0.55m - 0.85m). The peak upstream counts (23rd & 24th March) occurred during the release from Kielder reservoir on 21st to 26th and with the rising temperature. The slightly lower counts between 26th and 30th do appear to coincide with river levels dropping back and the decline water temperatures. Counts increase again at the end of the month when the two variables start to increase again.

If you are not already aware, we do have a system on the internet that will allow you to check river levels before you go out fishing. Please follow the link below:

Environment Agency - River and sea levels

Tagged Fish

A salmon tagged by us at Kielder Hatchery was re-caught and at Hexham on 5th March. This salmon, a female grilse (2.1+) was originally caught on the river on 16th November on the River Rede during the broodstock collection and was retained for the Hatchery. After the eggs were released, it was tagged and then released into the North Tyne on 30th November. Fingers crossed that this fish makes it all the way back out sea and comes back again to spawn.


The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is part of the impact assessment into the construction of the Second Tyne Tunnel.


Many thanks for you continuing support

Morton

Morton Heddell-Cowie
Tyne Tunnel Monitoring Officer
Environment Agency

The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is supported by:

[Editor]

Counts

The upstream count for April was 409, and is the highest in our records, surpassing the previous highest, occurring in 2004 by 112. The highest daily counts during April occurred on the 20th, 26th and 27th with 30, 38 and 33 being recorded respectively. The 2011 count was almost three times that of the 5 year (142) and 15 year (147.2) averages. Although, the video footage for April has yet to be reviewed properly, provisional viewing during visits to the Riding Mill monitoring site appear to suggest that only salmon have crossed the counter. The upstream count for May up to the 9am on the 4th was 89, bringing the upstream count for the year to 609.

Further details of the daily upstream counts for 2011 and historic monthly counts can be found by following the link below:

Environment Agency - River Tyne fish counts




During April, upstream counts were recorded on each day, even during the spate on the 5th. The trend in daily upstream counts was generally upward through the month, coinciding with a similar trend in daily average water temperatures. However, peaks in the daily counts recorded generally occurred when there was a brief period of cooling. During the latter half of April there were two releases from Kielder reservoir, starting on 18th and 25th. On the first release, the was a jump in upstream counts two days after it reached Riding Mill, however it the numbers were not sustained and gradually receded. On the second release upstream counts responded within 24 hours and were sustained for a further 24 before dropping back as the release passed.

If you are not already aware, we do have a system on the internet that will allow you to check river levels before you go out fishing. Please follow the link below:

Environment Agency - River and sea levels


Angler Scale Sampling Programme 2011

During April, seven scale samples were received, all of which coming from salmon. Two of the samples were from fish caught downstream of Riding Mill and the remainder were caught upstream. The samples were split in two groups with four coming from salmon that could be described as spring fish (i.e. no evidence of any faster growth beyond the final sea winter and the edges of the scales being sharp and no signs of erosion) and two coming from fish that had come from salmon that had returned to the river on a previous occasion. No reading was possible on one of the samples, as all scales in the sample were replacements. To date 33 scales samples have been received during 2011.

One of these salmon caught during April, weighed approximately 24lbs and scale reading indicated that fish was a 1.3, spending approximately one winter in the river before leaving as smolt during the spring of 2008. After spending three winters in the North Atlantic Ocean, the fish returned to the River Tyne at some point during early April. It was known the fish had only recently returned to the river due to the presence of long tailed sea-lice.


The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is part of the impact assessment into the construction of the Second Tyne Tunnel. Support of the Angler Scale Sampling Programme and Angler Logbook Scheme will ensure that these monthly updates will continue.

Many thanks for you support

Morton

Morton Heddell-Cowie
Tyne Tunnel Monitoring Officer
Environment Agency

The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is supported by: