The National Electrofishing Programme for Scotland (NEPS) was established in 2018. The foundation of the programme is a statistical survey design that ensures collection of unbiased, spatially representative data on the abundance of freshwater fish and the pressures that affect them, including water quality and genetic introgression from farm escapes. Survey design, data storage, analysis and reporting are provided by Marine Scotland. Data collection is undertaken by a network of professional local fisheries managers. NEPS data can be analysed at a range of spatial scales (national, regional, catchment, sub-catchment, site). The current assessment method provides a scientifically robust basis for assessing the status of salmon, identifying potential pressures, supporting local management decision making and policy imperatives (e.g. Blue Economy Vision for Scotland, Wild Salmon Strategy). With further work, similar assessment approaches could support a range of reporting requirements including Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive and Conservation Regulations, depending on available resource. NEPS provides the evidence base necessary to plan conservation, restoration and management of Atlantic salmon and with further development, other freshwater fish species including brown trout and European eel. The latest data show that densities of salmon fry (0+) in 2021 were lower than 2018, but higher than 2019 and were overall healthy at a national scale. In contrast salmon parr (=>1+) densities were extremely low at around 60% of their target level. However, there was also substantial regional variability. In the case of salmon parr, healthy (Grade 1) populations were only found in the north. Comparison of mean juvenile densities from NEPS with regional rod catch data indicated broadly coherent spatial and temporal relationships. This consistency between abundance indicators used in different assessment methods is reassuring when making management decisions. Water quality data highlighted potential pressures from nutrient pollution, particularly in the north-east, central belt and Ayrshire coast, while anthropogenic acidification impacts appear to remain a localised problem in the south-west of Scotland. High nutrient loads and eutrophication impacts are likely to become an increasing problem under climate change when combined with low summer flows and high temperatures.
Data and Resources
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publisher | |
| Modified | 2023-02-17 |
| Release Date | 2023-02-16 |
| Identifier | 1b9725bb-5c8e-474d-b76d-469c9d71e0c2 |
| Spatial / Geographical Coverage Area | POLYGON ((-1.0986328125 56.134454820651, -4.4384765625 54.279257540609, -6.943359375 56.011818037182, -8.5693359375 58.666584249579, -0.966796875 58.894359971753)) |
| Temporal Coverage | 2021-07-01 to 2021-10-01 |
| Language | English (United Kingdom) |
| License | UK Open Government Licence (OGL) |
| Data Dictionary | For further information on NEPS please see the following web pages and previous reports: Malcolm I.A., Millidine K.J, Jackson F.L, Glover R.S Fryer R.J. 2020. The National Electrofishing Programme for Scotland (NEPS) 2019. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 11 No 9, 56pp. DOI: 10.7489/12321-1 Malcolm, I.A. Millidine, K.J. Jackson, F.L. Glover, R.S. and Fryer, R.J. (2019) Assessing the status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from juvenile electrofishing data collected under the National Electrofishing Programme for Scotland (NEPS). Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol. 10 No. 2. Collaborators The NEPS survey design, project management, data analysis and reporting were funded under Marine Scotland Science Service Level Agreement (SLA) FW02g. The following collaborating organisations are thanked for their valuable efforts in facilitating or delivering data collection for NEPS 2018: West Sutherland Fisheries Trust; Northern District Salmon Fishery Board; Caithness District Salmon Fishery Board; Helmsdale District Salmon Fishery Board; Brora District Salmon Fishery Board; Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust; Cromarty Firth Fisheries Trust; Ness and Beauly Fisheries Trust; Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Trust; Spey Foundation; The Deveron, Bogie & Isla Rivers Charitable Trust; Ugie District Salmon Fishery Board; Ythan District Fishery Board; River Dee Trust; The Esk Rivers & Fisheries Trust; Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board; Forth Fisheries Trust; Tweed Foundation; The River Annan Trust; Nith Catchment Fisheries Trust; Galloway Fisheries Trust; Ayrshire Rivers Trust; Clyde River Foundation; Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust; Argyll Fisheries Trust; Lochaber Fisheries Trust; Skye & Wester Ross Fisheries Trust; Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust; Waterside Ecology Independent Ecological Consultants. The following collaborating organisations are thanked for their valuable efforts in facilitating or delivering data collection for NEPS 2019: West Sutherland Fisheries Trust; Northern District Salmon Fishery Board; Caithness District Salmon Fishery Board; Helmsdale District Salmon Fishery Board; Brora District Salmon Fishery Board; Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust; Cromarty Firth District Salmon Fishery Board; Ness and Beauly Fisheries Trust; Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Trust; Nairn District Salmon Fishery Board; Spey Foundation; The Deveron, Bogie & Isla Rivers Charitable Trust; Ugie District Salmon Fishery Board; Ythan District Fishery Board; River Dee Trust; The Esk Rivers & Fisheries Trust; Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board; Forth Rivers Trust; Tweed Foundation; The River Annan Trust; Nith Catchment Fisheries Trust; Galloway Fisheries Trust; Ayrshire Rivers Trust; Clyde River Foundation; Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust; Argyll Fisheries Trust; Lochaber Fisheries Trust; Skye & Wester Ross Fisheries Trust; Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust; University of the Highlands and Islands – The Rivers and Lochs Institute. The following collaborating organisations are thanked for their valuable efforts in facilitating or delivering data collection for NEPS 2021: West Sutherland Fisheries Trust; Northern District Salmon Fishery Board; Caithness District Salmon Fishery Board; Helmsdale District Salmon Fishery Board; Brora District Salmon Fishery Board; Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust; Cromarty Firth District Salmon Fisheries Board; Ness District Salmon Fishery Board; Beauly District Salmon Fishery Board; Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Trust; Nairn District Salmon Fishery Board; Spey Foundation; The Deveron, Bogie & Isla Rivers Charitable Trust; Ugie District Salmon Fishery Board; Ythan District Fishery Board; River Dee Trust; The Esk Rivers & Fisheries Trust; Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board; Forth Rivers Trust; Tweed Foundation; Nith Catchment Fisheries Trust; Galloway Fisheries Trust; Ayrshire Rivers Trust; Clyde River Foundation; Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust; Argyll Fisheries Trust; Lochaber Fisheries Trust; Skye and Lochalsh Fisheries Trust; Wester Ross Fisheries Trust; Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust |
| Contact Name | Marine Scotland |
| Contact Email | |
| Public Access Level | Public |