I thought your article on conservation efforts to bring wild salmon back to Britain’s rivers was interesting (“Floundering”, November 7th). But the main factor that reduces the survival of salmon is excessive exploitation by mixed-stock fisheries in coastal waters. A degree in rocket science is not needed to launch an immediate remedy: all killing of wild Atlantic salmon by any method should cease for the next three years. This should ensure a robust biodiversity and help stocks return to their historical abundance. Although the salmon-runs verge on total failure in British and Norwegian rivers, 2015 saw a record year in Iceland, which has no mixed-stock fisheries.
Read MoreMany rivers in Iceland have enjoyed all-time record catches in 2015. Naturally stocked rivers have fared best, but those that supplement natural stocks with hatchery-bred smolts have had better-than-average years, too. An estimated 75,000 salmon were caught in the 2015 season. This compares to the best year of 84,124 in 2008 and 74,961 in 2010. However, if the catch from hatchery stocked rivers and the number of fish recaptured as a result of catch-and release are discounted, the estimated total catch from naturally stocked and therefore sustainable rivers in 2015 is about 52,400 salmon, which is near the all-time record year of 1978 when all 52,697 salmon were caught and killed.
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