Electrofishing Survey of the River Doon

Electrofishing Survey of the River Spey

Summer 2015

Spey electrofishing team at Grantown*

Disclaimer This report has been prepared by the Spey Foundation on the basis of information believed to be accurate. However, the Trust does not accept any responsibility for the actions of any parties occasioned by their reading of this report. The information and images presented remain the property of the Spey Foundation and should not be reproduced without permission

* Cover photo: Jimmy Mitchell, Cairngorm Landscapes

Introduction

The Spey Foundation (SF) was formed from the Spey Research Trust in 2009. The SF has a wide ranging remit throughout the Spey catchment including scientific research, education and invasive species management. A key role of the SF is to monitor the status of juvenile salmonid and other fish populations at a network of electrofishing survey sites spread throughout the Spey catchment.

2015 was the fourth year of the three year rota electrofishing system introduced to ensure full coverage of all tributaries within the Spey catchment. The annual survey of the Spey mainstem was completed and a number of burns were surveyed during contract work.

The aims of the 2015 electrofishing survey were:

 To examine salmon fry distribution and abundance along the mainstem of the River Spey, including above Spey Dam  To examine salmon fry distribution and abundance in the mainstem of the Dulnain, Nethy and Druie.  To investigate fish populations in the Dulnain, Nethy and Druie catchments and in a selection of Spey Burns.  To compare the electrofishing results from the above tributaries with the results from the 2012 survey  To monitor juvenile salmon stocks following stocking carried out by the Spey Fishery Board (SFB)  To monitor juvenile salmon stocks in habitat restoration sites  To provide management advice to the Spey Fishery Board (SFB) so that they can fulfil their statutory duties to maintain and protect the salmon and sea trout population  To report on the findings from the 2015 electrofishing surveys to the SFB and other interested parties.

2. Methods

Data recording

The SF is a full member of the Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre (SFCC). The SFCC provides protocols for its members for data collecting and recording and has developed a database for entering and storing data in an agreed format. The SFCC also provides electrofishing training to its members, and SF staff are qualified to lead and design electrofishing surveys to SFCC protocols. Wherever possible SF surveys are therefore carried out to the standards required by the SFCC and data are recorded using the agreed format.

Techniques

2 Fish populations at each site were assessed using electrofishing. This is a widely used technique to examine freshwater fish communities. The method uses electricity to attract and stun fish, which allows operators to remove them from the water. Captured fish are held and each individual is anaesthetised then identified, measured and returned unharmed to the area from which they were captured. At all sites battery powered backpack equipment (Efish 500W) was used. Settings were adjusted for each site depending on environmental variables such as conductivity, which are measured at the start of each survey.

Two different techniques were used. In smaller watercourses, where it was possible to cover the entire survey area thoroughly the number of fish captured was related to the wetted area of the site. However, for the larger main stem sites, the full area of the river could not be surveyed effectively. In these cases, a timed electrofishing protocol was used with results expressed as fish caught per minute.

Timed surveys

Timed surveys are an effective and efficient way of examining fish distribution and abundance, particularly in larger watercourses. While timed fishing does not provide an absolute value for fish densities, it can be extremely useful in comparing different parts of a catchment or wider area, provided that catch efficiency does not change between sites. This potential source of error can be minimised by ensuring that an identical protocol is followed at every site and by using a standard team of fully trained personnel. The protocol used for the 2015 timed electrofishing surveys was the salmonid fry index protocol as defined in section 2.2.2 of the SFCC team leader electrofishing training manual, with the additional refinement of the built in timer available with the Efish electrofishing equipment (SFCC 2007)

Sites for this type the survey were chosen to cover suitable salmon fry habitat throughout as broad a geographic range as possible along the main stem of the river. It is particularly important to examine these habitats because in the Spey catchment 60% of the accessible habitat lies in the main stem. The same technique was used in the mainstem of the Dulnain, Nethy and Druie.

Shallow run and riffle areas were targeted, preferably with a maximum depth of 30 cm. Electrofishing runs were timed, with a single 3-minute run being carried out at each site, all within typical fry habitat. The E-fish electrofishing equipment has a countdown timer which records actual electrofishing time.

During the timed surveys the electrofishing operators proceeded in an upstream direction throughout, working in a zigzag pattern to avoid covering the same area twice, and staying in shallow areas providing fry habitat. In some cases this meant that the whole channel width was not covered, however because the fish numbers were to be related to time, rather than area, this could be accounted for.

Some of the timed surveys completed were also recorded using a video headcam. Some of these videos have been posted on the Spey Foundation online video channel which can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/channels/speyfoundation/videos.

Density surveys

For the density surveys, the surveyors start at the downstream end of the section and move back and forwards across the channel so that every part of the bed was covered. The type of net used depended on the specific site - at fast flowing sites with small substrate a banner net was used to

3 ensure no stunned fish were carried downstream past the operator. However in slower flowing water, or where the substrate was made up of many large boulders, hand nets were generally found to be more effective.

Salmon and trout were separated into year classes on the basis of length frequency histograms. As fish grow at very different rates between sites, this was repeated for each site individually. Age classifications were also checked by examining the scales taken from fish of a range of sizes. Fish densities were then separated into fry and parr for the presentation of results. Fry refers to fish less than one year old resulting from spawning at the end of the previous year and parr to older fish.

At most sites, a one run, semi-quantitative protocol was used. While this method does not provide information on absolute fish densities, it is commonly used as a relative comparison between sites or at the same site between years. This method was also chosen as it allows a greater number of sites to be visited. However some sites were surveyed using a three run fully quantitative protocol. Assuming adequate numbers of fish and declining catch with each subsequent run absolute fish densities can be calculated. The SFCC electrofishing classification scheme (see below) is based on one run surveys, or first run from multiple run surveys and therefore all results provided are single or first run data, unless otherwise noted.

Correlations between the results from single run and three run surveys were found to be good with high R2 values for salmon and trout fry and parr. An example is shown below.

300 Salmon 0+ 250

200 150

All runsAll y = 1.6089x 100 R² = 0.9777 50 0 0 50 100 150 200 1 Run

Figure 1: Salmon 0+ correlations between one and three run surveys 2014. Results are expressed as fish per 100m2.

This analysis has shown that in 2014 on average 62.1% of the salmon fry were captured during the first run of multiple run surveys. For salmon parr the figures were 63.2% during the first run, 64.7% for trout fry and 68.5% for trout parr. The strong correlations obtained mean that the total fish densities can be predicted with confidence based on single run data if required.

Statistical analysis

One of the aims of the 2015 electrofishing survey was to revisits tributaries and sites surveyed in 2012 the opportunity was therefore taken to statistically compare results from repeat surveys undertaken as part of the three year rota. Fry and parr densities for both salmon and trout were assessed using the standard t-test available on Microsoft Excel. Due to the relatively small sample sizes the t-test was considered the most suitable statistical method to assess whether there was a statistically different difference in the densities recorded for each species and age group between the 2012 and 2015 surveys. The level of significance chosen to represent a real difference between

4 the two sets of results was 0.05 or 5% i.e. there was less than a one in twenty chance of that set of results occurring at random. An overall assessment of significance is provided for the combined results from all 2012 and 2015 surveys plus an assessment at a tributary level. It should be noted that the smaller the sample size the larger the difference demanded by the t-test. Consequently the results of the significance test from the combined analysis may be different from the individual tributary or group analysis.

Results Classification

It should be noted that using the system described below that there will always be a range of results from very low (Red) to excellent (Dark Green). This is particularly the case for the timed electrofishing as the results are based on Spey survey results only. For density sites some of the sites in the red category may be due to natural limiting factors such as fish access or low productivity, whereas in other sites low fish densities may be of more concern. Every effort will be made to distinguish between sites where fish populations are naturally low and those where expectations are higher.

Timed sites

In order that the results from across the river or site can be compared easily with others, a classification scheme has been introduced. The results from the River Spey timed-electrofishing in 2012/2013/2014/2015 were collated and the total salmon fry densities figures ranked and split into quintiles (20% divisions), excluding sites where no fry were recorded. The quintiles were then assigned a classification indicating the relative number of salmon fry caught per minute. The timed results classification score will be revised annually to incorporate the latest year’s results and in due course five year rolling average breakpoints will be introduced.

The 2015 timed results classification were used to classify all timed survey results.

Table 1: 2012-2015 Spey timed sites salmon fry classification 2012-2015 Salmon fry breakpoints Classification (No/min) 0.0 Absent < 6.33 E – Very low 6.33 – <13.0 D - Low 13.0 – <20.0 C - Moderate 20.0 – <31.0 B - Good >31.0 A - Excellent

Density sites

The results from surveys where fish densities (per 100m2 wetted area) were obtained are classified according to the SFCC Scottish national classification scheme which was derived using data from over 1600 Scottish sites covering the period 1997-2002 (Godfrey, 2005). This allows the Spey Foundation and the reader to interpret local fish populations in a Scotland-wide, or regional context. The national classes may be periodically revised as fish populations will inevitably change over time, even on a national scale.

The SFCC national classification scheme included refinements such as regional classifications, the Moray Firth region being relevant to the Spey catchment. Each regional classification was also split by stream width, i.e. >4m wide, 4-6m wide etc. The Moray Firth region classification scheme based

5 on stream width will be used throughout this report to classify all density electrofishing results. Full details of the classification scheme can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/science/sfcc/Background

Table 2: SFCC Moray Firth region salmonid classes corrected for stream width (density/100m2). The classification is based on single or first run results from multiple run surveys. Salmon fry density/100m2 Salmon parr density/100m2 Width Class < 4m 4-6m 6-9m >9m < 4m 4-6m 6-9m >9m A - Excellent 86.8+ 77.3+ 40.4+ 32.3+ 30.9+ 25.3+ 22.8+ 16.0+ B - Good <86.8 - 35.8 <77.3 - 42.6 <40.4 - 26.8 <32.3 - 15.1 <30.9 - 18.9 <25.3 - 18.4 <22.8 - 12.4 <16.0 - 12.1 C - Moderate <35.8 - 22.6 <42.6 - 27.5 <26.8 - 18.7 <15.1 - 9.9 <18.9 - 11.7 <18.4 - 10.8 <12.4 - 9.2 <12.1 - 6.7 D - Low <22.6 - 8.6 <27.5 - 7.7 <18.7 - 11.2 <9.9 - 4.0 <11.7 - 5.3 <10.8 - 3.7 <9.2 - 4.9 <6.7 - 3.0 E - Very Low <8.6 - 1.5 <7.7 - 1.0 <11.2 - 0.7 <4.0 - 0.9 <5.3 - 1.2 <3.7 - 1.0 <4.9 - 0.7 <3.0 - 0.9 Absent 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0

Trout fry density/100m2 Trout parr density/100m2 Width Class < 4m 4-6m 6-9m >9m < 4m 4-6m 6-9m >9m A - Excellent 39.0+ 26.4+ 9.3+ 5.4+ 18.1+ 13.3+ 6.1+ 2.7+ B - Good <39.0 - 21.0 <26.4 - 10.4 <9.3 - 6.0 <5.4 - 3.3 <18.1 - 13.7 <13.3 - 7.2 <6.1 - 4.0 <2.7 - 1.9 C - Moderate <21.0 - 14.3 <10.4 - 7.0 <6.0 - 4.5 <3.3 - 1.6 <13.7 - 9.1 <7.2 - 5.2 <4.0 - 2.3 <1.9 - 1.7 D - Low <14.3 - 5.9 <7.0 - 2.9 <4.5 - 3.1 <1.6 - 1.2 <9.1 - 3.9 <5.2 - 2.3 <2.3 - 1.3 <1.7 - 1.0 E - Very Low <5.9 - 1.1 <2.9 - 0.5 <3.1 - 0.8 <1.2 - 0.3 <3.9 - 1.4 <2.3 - 1.0 <1.3 - 0.6 <1.0 - 0.6 Absent 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0

It can be seen from the tables that for both species and age classes the expectations are that densities will be higher in narrower stream widths than wider streams. The decline in densities with stream width is less marked for salmon than for trout. For salmon fry a density of between 22.6 to 35.8/100m2 is required for the site to be classed as moderate in a stream less than 4m wide, whereas the density required for the same classification in a stream wider than 9m is between 9.9 to 15.1/100m2.

Some rivers/burns will only naturally support low numbers of fish even if the habitat is pristine, e.g. high altitude burns draining granite geology. The Spey catchment is highly variable and salmon are able to access a wide range of habitat types. The potential carrying capacity and therefore expectations for fish densities in the lower Fiddich for example should not be the same as for the high altitude reaches of the Feshie.

6 3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Timed Electrofishing Sites

This section reports on timed electrofishing surveys completed in the mainstems of the Spey, Dulnain, Nethy and Druie. Surveys are based on the time fished and results are expressed as fish captured per minute. Results are classified and colour coded according to results collected within the Spey catchment only. See section 2 for more details.

A total of 60 timed sites were surveyed along the mainstem of the River Spey with a further 31 timed sites completed between the Dulnain, Nethy and Druie. Run/riffle habitat was targeted at a range of sites in all rivers, although in the Spey mainstem for historical reasons and consistency a number of the sites more suited to parr than fry continue to be surveyed. Sites were selected to provide comprehensive geographical coverage of the river.

It is the intention that the same sites on the Spey mainstem will be surveyed annually during relatively consistent conditions, i.e. same time of year and at similar river levels. Due to variable river levels some of the Spey mainstem sites were surveyed later in the year than in previous years and the 2015 Spey mainstem surveying took place over a longer period than in the past. The effect of delayed surveying may be to reduce the counts in some areas due to ongoing mortality in the fry population.

The results from the Spey mainstem timed surveys are shown in Table 3 below. The average salmon fry count per minute for the Spey sites in 2015 was 19.6/minute compared to 18.8/minute in 2014. There was no significant difference between the 2014 and 2015 mainstem salmon fry counts (T-test = 0.39).

Salmon fry were found at all sites downstream of Spey Dam with 82% of the sites in that part of the river in the moderate to excellent categories. Upstream of Spey Dam salmon fry were found at seven of the ten sites surveyed. This is an improvement compared to 2014 when no salmon fry were found at any of the sites above Spey Dam. The distribution of salmon fry above Spey Dam was similar to that recorded in 2012 although the average number of fry in 2015 was 1.4/minute compared to 3.5/minute in 2012.

The site at Ruthven Bridge at Kingussie was not surveyed in 2015 due to road closures associated with the replacement of the road bridge. This site will be surveyed again in 2016. The only other change made in 2015 was to drop the site at the Truim mouth (S264L1) and replace it with a site accessed from the left bank 2km downstream (S260L1). The results from the new site in 2015 were higher than the average from the previous three surveys at S264R1 but the effect is only a 1% increase in the average fry count in 2015. This site is more accessible, it is accessed from the same side of the river as other sites in the area, and has a larger area of suitable habitat compared to the restricted survey area available at Truim mouth.

7 Table 3: Spey mainstem timed results 2012/13/14/15. Salmon fry/min With four years monitoring in a consistent Site code Location 2012 2013 2014 2015 S007R1 Gordon Castle 24.7 22.7 16.3 27.3 manner on the record some features of the S012R1 Gordon Castle 11.3 17.0 17.3 20.3 Spey mainstem fry population are becoming S017L2 Gordon Castle 31.7 52.7 24.7 20.0 apparent: S019L2 Gordon Castle 13.3 57.7 28.7 34.7 S025L1 Gordon Castle 7.7 26.0 23.0 26.0  The overall results have been very S029L1 Orton Water 6.3 41.0 15.0 31.7 consistent, particularly in the last S032L1 Orton Water 9.0 44.0 17.7 28.3 three years during which period no S034R1 Delfur 19.7 12.0 55.0 27.0 S040L1 Delfur 6.7 14.0 13.3 22.0 significant difference between the S040L2 Delfur 90.0 66.0 29.0 mean fry counts occurred. S042L1 Rothes 7.7 44.0 10.3 14.7  S047L1 Rothes 6.3 9.3 9.0 18.3 The lower and middle reaches S050R1 Arndilly 13.7 29.7 28.3 16.0 generally produce the highest S052L1 Arndilly 15.7 15.7 19.7 23.7 counts. This is a reflection of S056L1 East Elchies 17.7 34.7 43.7 39.7 S059R1 Craigellachie 36.7 28.3 33.3 23.0 spawning habitat availability and S060R1 Craigellachie 13.0 12.3 23.0 11.7 survey site suitability for fry. S061R1 Craigellachie 20.3 12.3 22.0 10.0  S066R1 Aberlour 10.0 15.3 27.7 17.0 The Phones site again produced the S068R1 Kinermony 3.3 7.3 lowest fry count; this is considered SO86L1 Wester Elchies 15.7 12.0 9.3 the result of a local lack of S071R1 Delagyle 7.0 6.3 SO72L2 Wester Elchies 19.3 7.3 28.3 availability of spawning habitat. S074L1 Laggan 7.0 5.3 9.0 13.7 Suitable spawning habitat upstream S077L1 Laggan 36.7 10.0 31.3 27.7 and downstream occurs and at S079R1 Carron 15.7 31.0 16.3 18.3 S082L1 Knockando 8.3 9.3 17.7 15.0 these sites fry counts were S087L1 Phones 3.7 6.0 4.7 moderate to excellent in 2015. S093R1 Low er Pitchroy 21.3 25.7 20.3 41.7 S096R1 Ballindalloch 11.0 20.0 49.0 37.0  The presence of salmon fry at 70% S104L2 Ballindalloch 20.3 61.3 40.7 43.0 of the survey sites upstream of S105L2 Tulchan D 35.0 65.7 33.7 45.7 Spey Dam show that some S112L1 Tulchan C 10.3 35.0 11.3 31.3 S119L1 Tulchan B 28.0 30.7 10.0 27.7 spawning salmon were able to pass S124R1 Tulchan A 13.0 38.0 14.7 18.7 the dam and spawn successfully in S131L1 Castle Grant 3 29.0 40.0 21.0 34.3 2014. However fry counts were all S135L1 Castle Grant 2 17.7 44.0 36.3 20.0 S141L1 Castle Grant 1 3.7 8.0 9.3 17.0 in the low or very low categories, S147L1 SAIA 11.0 17.3 16.0 45.3 and probably indicative of a very S149L1 SAIA 12.0 10.3 14.7 21.7 S163L1 Abernethy AA 33.7 73.3 59.3 28.0 low spawning stock. SEPA have now S177L1 Abernethy AA 23.0 53.0 24.0 31.0 classed Spey Dam as a barrier which S183L1 Kinchurdy 5.7 45.0 21.0 29.7 should provide a driver for S195L1 Aviemore AA 14.0 36.0 13.7 11.0 S209L1 Kinrara 19.0 28.3 13.3 19.3 improvement. S212R1 Kinrara 16.0 S215L1 Dalraddy 24.3 63.3 47.7 24.0 As in previous years we can conclude from S243R1 Badenoch AA 8.7 14.3 17.7 S254R1 Badenoch AA 6.0 8.0 18.3 10.7 these surveys that salmon fry are widely S258L1 Badenoch AA 12.7 11.0 19.3 5.7 distributed throughout the Spey mainstem S260L1 Badenoch AA 20.7 S264R1 Truim 22.0 4.3 5.3 with recruitment only a significant issue S282R1 Laggan 19.7 17.7 18.7 26.0 upstream of Spey Dam. S287L1 Laggan 12.3 21.3 14.7 5.0 S290L1 Below Spey Dam 18.0 25.0 5.7 8.0 S298R1 Glenshirra 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 S305L1 Garvamore 3.3 3.7 0.0 2.7 S305L2 Garva Bridge 1.3 1.3 0.0 1.0 S311L1 Upper Spey 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 S312L1 Upper Spey 4.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 S315L1 Upper Spey 5.7 0.0 0.0 8.0 S317L1 Upper Spey 7.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 S318L1 Upper Spey 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 S319R1 Upper Spey 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 S326L1 Upper Spey 5.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 S328R1 Upper Spey 0.0 * Mean 13.6 23.6 18.8 19.6

8 The mainstem timed surveys are designed to assess the salmon fry population but as discussed above some sites are potentially also suitable for parr. During these surveys salmon parr, as well as other fish species, are also caught. Over the last four years the number of parr captured has shown a higher degree of variation than the fry counts.

Table 4: Spey mainstem salmon parr counts per minute during salmon fry index surveys. Salmon parr/minute River 2012 2013 2014 2015 Spey 1.2 4.3 3.8 1.5

Following two years with higher parr counts, the count in 2015 was lower with a mean of 1.5/minute. Whilst these surveys primarily target salmon fry the parr results are considered to be a fair reflection of the actual situation in the river with this result matching the findings from some tributary surveys (presented below).

The graph below shows the number of salmon fry and parr per minute categorised by river zone. The overall picture is similar to that recorded in 2014. The highest parr count in 2015 was 6.0/minute from site S147L1 at Grantown, well below the highest counts of 19.7/min in 2014 (Site S066R1 Aberlour) and 33.7/min in 2013 at the same site.

Spey mainstem salmon fry & parr by river zone 2014/15

35 Fry 2014 30 Parr 2014 25 Fry 2015 20 Parr 2015 15

10 Number perNumberminute 5

0 Spey Bay to Orton to Craigellachie Ballindalloch Abernethy Loch Insh to Upstream Brae 1 Fiddich to Avon to Grantown to Loch Insh Spey Dam Spey Dam

Figure 2: Salmon fry and parr counts per minute sorted by river zone 2014/15

The same timed electrofishing survey protocol was also used in the River Dulnain. Timed electrofishing surveys were completed in the Dulnain mainstem covering the entire accessible area. Similar surveys were completed in the Dulnain in 2012 and the results from 2012 and 2015 are compared. In 2015 two additional sites were included to fill in gaps in the coverage and due to access difficulties one site in the upper river was dropped (TSD67, upstream Feithlinn confluence) and replaced with a new site downstream of the location of the former Suspension Bridge.

9 Table 5: River Dulnain timed salmon fry index results 2012/15 expressed as salmon fry/min.

Dulnain 2012 2015 site Sal Sal code Location fry/min fry/min TSD02 Upstream railway line 15.3 TSD05 Upstream Dulnain Bridge 32.0 35.3 TSD09 Balnain bridge 15M U/S 24.7 38.3 TSD18 Wester Gallovie farm 31.3 43.3 TSD21 Duthil Church 33.3 74.7 TSD26 Lochanhully 13.3 TSD30 Allt Beag footbridge 13.0 15.7 TSD34 Feith Mhor 17.7 8.7 TSD41 Inverlaidnan Bridge 2.3 5.7 TSD45 200m upstream Dalnahaitnach 6.7 14.3 TSD48 40m d/s watergate 5.0 7.7 TSD52 600m d/s Eil 7.7 8.0 TSD55 At Kinrara gate u/s Eil 5.0 2.0 TSD67 Upstream Feithlinn confluence 1.3 TSD73 Suspension Bridge 0.3 TSD88 Pitmain Bothy 2.3 0.0 Mean 14.0 18.8

The overall pattern in 2015 was similar to that recorded in 2012 with the sites downstream of Carrbridge producing the highest counts. The gradient in this area is lower and there are excellent quality spawning riffle and runs between slower flowing glides and pools (see Figure 3). The conductivity is also higher downstream of Carrbridge (mean 74microsiemens/cm downstream compared to 41 upstream during the 2015 timed surveys). This is due to a combination of naturally productive lower tributaries such as the Auchnahannet Burn and the Duthil Burn supplemented by human inputs such as agricultural run-off, Carrbridge sewage treatment works and septic tanks. The mean number of salmon fry per minute in 2015 was higher than in 2012 although not all the sites surveyed were the same. A comparison of the sites that were surveyed in both 2012 and 2015 shows that the mean number was greater in 2015 (21.1/min compared to 15.1/minute in 2012) but there was no significant difference between the two years (T-test = 0.21).

The results of the timed surveys in the Dulnain are depicted below in relation to altitude and gradient. Salmon fry were not recorded at the uppermost site, Pitmain Bothy, although two year classes of salmon parr were recorded.

The parr counts in 2015 were 2.5 per minute compared to 1.7/min in 2012 although a comparison between sites fished in both 2012 (1.7/min) and 2015 (2.0/min) found no significant difference.

10 River Dulnain section altitude and salmon fry counts 700

600 Carrbridge

500

400

300 Altitudem 200

100

SD10 SD37 SD64 SD04 SD07 SD13 SD16 SD19 SD22 SD25 SD28 SD31 SD34 SD40 SD43 SD46 SD49 SD52 SD55 SD58 SD61 SD67 SD70 SD73 SD76 SD79 SD82 SD85 SD88 SD01

Figure 3: River Dulnain altitude and salmon fry counts

Figure 4: Duthil timed electrofishing site in the River Dulnain. 224 salmon fry were captured in three minutes in this riffle, the best result from any Dulnain site in 2015.

The results of the timed electrofishing surveys in the River Nethy are shown in the table below. The Nethy is a smaller tributary than the Dulnain with 16km accessible to migratory fish as far upstream as the impassable waterfall at Bynack Stable. Consequently only five timed surveys were completed on the Nethy, this being the first time that this survey technique had been used on this tributary.

11 Table 6: River Nethy salmon fry index results 2015. Results expressed as salmon fry per minute. Site Salmon code Location fry/min TSN03 Coulnakyle 90.7 TSN08 Behind Dell Cottage 35.7 TSN18 Forest Lodge 9.7 TSN23 Inchtomach 13.0 TSN31 Below Bynack waterfall 7.7 Mean 31.3

The results from the River Nethy exhibit the typical pattern found in most tributaries with higher fry counts in the lower reaches. 272 salmon fry were captured in the lower site at Coulnakyle, making it one of the top five results recorded in the Spey catchment.

The mean salmon parr count in the Nethy was 3.7/min including a zero count in the uppermost site.

River Nethy section altitude and salmon fry counts 450 400 350

300 250

200 Altitudem 150 Nethy 100 Bridge 50

SN24 SN29 SN02 SN03 SN04 SN05 SN06 SN07 SN08 SN09 SN10 SN11 SN12 SN13 SN14 SN15 SN16 SN17 SN18 SN19 SN20 SN21 SN22 SN23 SN25 SN26 SN27 SN28 SN30 SN31 SN01

Figure 5: River Nethy salmon fry counts related to altitude

The River Druie catchment was also surveyed for the first time using the timed salmon fry index technique. The Druie splits into two branches 2.7km upstream of Aviemore at Coylumbridge. The River Luineag drains the western slope of the Cairngorms via Loch Morlich, with the Am Beanaidh draining Loch Einich to the south. The characters of these tributaries are quite different with the Luineag downstream of Loch Morlich the more stable river. The results of the timed electrofishing surveys in the Druie catchment are shown in Table 7 below.

12 Table 7: River Druie timed salmon fry index results 2015 expressed as salmon fry/min. Druie Salmon site code River Situation fry/min TSDR03 Druie Rothiemurchus Centre 18.0 TSDR06 Luineag 300m u/s confluence 13.7 TSDR14 Luineag u/s Island 15.3 TSDR17 Luineag Badaguish below embankment 20.7 TSDR25 Allt Mor Corner with willow spilling 16.7 TSDRA01 Am Beanaidh Opposite top end of Caravan Park 3.3 TSDRA08 Am Beanaidh 170m u/s Cairngorm Footbridge 1.7 TSDRA12 Am Beanaidh Below island 4.0 TSDRA18 Am Beanaidh Above first ford 20.3 TSDRA22 Am Beanaidh Above Beanaidh Bheag 9.3 TSDRA29 Am Beanaidh Below Loch Einich 3.0 Mean 7.0

The results from the Luineag/Allt Mor were all in the moderate to good categories reflecting the stable nature of this tributary. The situation in the Am Beanaidh was quite different to the normal pattern of higher fry counts in the lower reaches of tributaries. In the Am Beanaidh the higher fry counts were in the middle and upper sites with the three lower sites all in the very low category. A potential explanation is that the gradient decreases in the middle and upper reaches of the Am Beanaidh, and with it stream power allowing stable gravel deposits to occur, further work would be required to establish if the pattern of fry distribution recorded this year was a consistent feature.

River Druie/Am Beanaidh section altitude & salmon fry counts 600

Am Beanaidh 500

400

River Druie

300 Altitudem 200 Loch Morlich

100

SDRA23 SDRA24 SDRA02 SDRA03 SDRA04 SDRA05 SDRA06 SDRA07 SDRA08 SDRA09 SDRA10 SDRA11 SDRA12 SDRA13 SDRA14 SDRA15 SDRA16 SDRA17 SDRA18 SDRA19 SDRA20 SDRA21 SDRA22 SDRA25 SDRA26 SDRA27 SDRA28 SDRA29 SDRA01

Figure 6: River Druie salmon fry counts related to altitude

Figure 7: Site TSDRA12 which is located in the high gradient middle reaches of the Am Beanaidh. Substrate sizes are large and stable spawning gravels are scarce. Fry were present at this site but in very low numbers.

The mean length of the salmon fry in the Am Beanaidh was 39.9mm, considerably smaller than the 47.7mm in the Druie/Luineag. The conductivity was lower in the Am Beanaidh (mean 22microsiemns/cm compared to 37 in the Druie/Luineag).

The River Druie/Luineag supported good numbers of salmon parr; the mean count was 5.3/min with 1.8/min in the Am Beanaidh where again the highest counts were in the upper reaches.

14 3.2 Density sites

This section reports on area based electrofishing surveys completed primarily in tributaries although three Spey mainstem sites are included. Surveys are based on area fished and results are expressed as fish captured per 100m2. Results are classified and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth Region classification scheme corrected for stream width. See Section 2 for more details.

A total of 121 density sites were surveyed in the Spey catchment in 2015. For reporting and analysis the results have been split into sub-catchments or groups; Spey, Dulnain, Nethy, Druie, burns and stocked sites and the Fiddich. Each area is reported in a separate section below. Each section comprises a table showing site locations and details, conductivity graph, electrofishing results and discussion. Historic data from some sites are also provided to highlight longer term trends.

The conductivity readings are included for information. A wide range of conductivity values are recorded across the Spey catchment, reflecting the underlying geology and man-made impacts. Conductivity is a measure of the quantity of dissolved ions in the water and to some extent provides a surrogate for productivity although pollution sources can distort natural influences.

The locations of sites and results classification for both salmon and trout fry and parr are shown in the maps below.

It should be clear from the maps above that the trout populations in many that a high proportion of the site surveyed in 2015 were in the moderate to excellent categories; for trout fry 78% of all sites surveyed had densities in the top three categories, for trout parr it was 59%. This is indicative of a healthy trout population. Table 8 below depicts the distribution of the sites by category for each species and age class.

19 Table 8: Categorisation of all density electrofishing sites 2015 by SFCC class Salmon Fry Salmon parr Excellent Excellent Good Good Mod Mod Low Low Very low Very low Absent

Trout fry Trout parr

Excellent Excellent Good Good Mod Mod Low Low Very low Very low

45% of the salmon fry results, and 36% for salmon parr, were in the top three categories. For both trout and salmon an assessment was carried out to investigate and analyse the underlying reasons for what appeared to be low fish densities.

The results of this assessment are shown in Table 9 below. A number of different issues were considered but access was considered to be the most significant except for trout parr. If Spey Dam is included as an access issue then at least 45% of all sites for salmon and trout fry can be explained by this factor. Access includes natural waterfalls, man-made structures such as distillery weirs, some of which are recently resolved but insufficient time has elapsed for healthy fish populations to develop. The pollution incidents in 2014 in the Cromdale Burn and Burn of Rothes were responsible for a limited number of low density results. The habitat categorisation includes two sites in the lower Allt an Aonaigh where very high densities of salmon fry were recorded but the habitat was not suited for parr. Sites in the lower Am Beanaidh and upper Allt Mor were also placed in this category primarily due to the high gradient and stream mobility. These sites could potentially support good fish densities during a period of benign flows but the impacts of the big spate of August 2014 are still apparent.

The other significant issue is termed competition. This was included as many of the survey sites were either in small streams, where trout tend to dominate within the Spey catchment, or wide river sites where salmon are the dominant species. The Allt a’Gheallaidh is a good example of the competitive interactions between salmon and trout. There is a mixed salmon and trout population throughout with salmon more abundant in the lower two sites. In the upper four sites salmon were absent although the stream width in the furthest downstream of these sites was over 4m. Sea trout spawn in high number for several kilometres upstream of the normal upper limit for salmon.

The number of sites with no clearly identifiable reason for poor fish densities ranged from 7.6% for salmon fry to 14% for trout parr. Some sites with unexpectedly low fish densities can always be expected and examples of burns with sites in this category included the Dunachton and Faesheallach Burns.

Table 9: Assessment of sites in absent to low categories by issue (%). Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr Number of sites 66 75 39 50 Upper limit 7.6 2.7 0.0 0.0 Access 33.3 32.0 30.7 20.0 Spey Dam 16.7 13.3 15.5 18.0 Habitat 12.1 13.3 12.8 18.0 Pollution 1.5 2.7 0.0 4.0 Competition 21.2 26.7 28.2 26.0 No obvious reason 7.6 9.3 12.8 14.0 Total 100 100 100 100

If available the statistical comparison for each section is provided below but the overall comparison between sites surveyed in 2012 and 2015 was statistically significant for each species and age class: salmon fry (p = 0.001), salmon parr (p = 0.043), trout fry (p = 0.001) and trout parr (p = 0.002).

3.2.1 River Spey

Three density sites were completed in the River Spey mainstem at Aberlour, Blacksboat and Advie Bridge. The Aberlour and Advie sites had been surveyed last year but the site at Blacksboat was relocated a short distance downstream into a comparable area which was considered to be suitable and resilient for surveying at a range of river heights. Due to the size, depth and flow of the Spey it is not possible to complete full channel density surveys. Instead quadrat surveys were established in stable parts of the mainstem using landmarks to allow replication in future years. No stop nets were used therefore a single run electrofishing survey was completed at each site. The site details for the Spey mainstem density sites are shown in Table 8 and survey results shown in Table 9 below.

Table 10: Spey mainstem density survey sites details Easting Northing Site Altitude Situation Av width Conductivity Code µS/cm

326427 843032 S7 85 Spey Aberlour 70.0 120 318411 838861 S9 135 Spey Blacksboat 60.0 83 311995 835267 S8 153 Spey Advie Bridge 30.0* 75.3 * Split channel

21 River Spey density sites conductivity 140

120 100 80 60 40

Microsiemens/cm 20 0 Aberlour u/s railway U/s Blackboat (new) Upstream Advie Bridge station

Figure 8: Conductivities recorded at Spey density electrofishing sites 2015

The Spey mainstem density electrofishing results are shown in the table below.

Table 11: River Spey mainstem density sites 2015. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width. Site Salmon Salmon Trout Trout Code Date Location Area m2 fry parr fry parr S7 01/10/2015 Aberlour u/s railway station 112.2 98.0 24.9 19.6 0.8 S9 01/10/2015 U/s Blackboat (new) 94.2 108.3 23.3 9.6 3.2 S8 02/10/2015 Upstream Advie Bridge 124.4 67.5 9.0 4.8 0.0 The results from the Aberlour site for salmon fry and parr were in the excellent category although the salmon parr density in 2015 was considerably lower than recorded in 2014 when the salmon parr density was 62.2/100m2. The results from the 2015 Blacksboat site were quite similar to the 2014 results, as was the salmon parr density at the Advie site, although there were more salmon fry in 2015. See Table 10 below.

Table 12: River Spey mainstem density sites 2014. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width. Site Av width Area Salmon Salmon Trout Trout Code Date Location m m2 fry parr fry parr S7 01/10/2014 Aberlour u/s railway station 70.0 113 143.1 62.2 2.7 1.8 S3 01/10/2014 Upstream Blacksboat 60.0 87 97.7 33.3 3.4 0.0 S8 01/10/2014 Upstream Advie Bridge 30.0 73.5 20.4 9.5 0.0 1.4 .

Reduced salmon parr densities in 2015 compared to 2014 were noted at sites during the 2015 surveys.

In 2014 it was reported that 64% of the salmon parr captured at the Aberlour site were over 90mm in length, a size threshold above which parr are likely to smolt the following spring. In 2015 all the salmon parr captured were over 90mm, so whilst the density was lower in 2015 the larger size of the parr present should help mitigate against the reduced smolt production with a higher proportion of the parr present large enough to smolt in 2016. This was a common finding at many sites.

22 3.2.2 River Dulnain catchment

A total of twenty three density sites surveyed in the River Dulnain catchment are reported in this section. Additional sites surveyed in the Batten Burn are reported in the section on stocking monitoring below.

Details of the sites surveyed are shown in the table below.

Table 13: River Dulnain 2015 electrofishing site details Easting Northing Site Location Altitude Ave Conductivity Code m Width Microsiemens/cm m

297500 824800 SD09 Dulnain at Balnaan Bridge 225 20.8 79.2 286526 821094 SD41 Dulnain at Inverlaidnan Br. 300 10.3 49.3 285242 820072 SD45 Dulnain at Dalnahaitnach 314 10.7 52 276600 812200 SD73 Dulnain at Suspension Bridge 485 11.5 49 271934 809366 SD88 Dulnain at Pitmain Bothy 624 3.7 38.3 297534 824980 SDAHa Auchnahannet Burn below farm 225 2.7 137 297259 825396 SDAHb Auchnahannet Burn between bridges 230 2.9 89 296901 827502 SDAHc Auchnahannet Burn upper 263 2.4 77 292570 824378 SDDUa Duthil Burn above road 253 4.5 68 292597 825996 SDDUb Duthil Burn at Lyndeor 265 4.2 65 292400 826500 SDDUc Garrocher Burn at Auchterteang 279 3.9 54 289250 822550 SDBAa Batten Burn at watergate 275 3.8 110 289120 823012 SDBAd Batten Burn at anthills 284 5.4 107 289200 822150 SDALa Allt Lorgy above bridge 275 4.3 36 288998 821591 SDALb Allt Lorgy below Lethendrychule 284 3.3 35.2 288890 821250 SDALc Allt Lorgy upstream Lethendrychule 295 4.9 35 288342 819992 SDALe Allt Lorgy below ford 328 4.6 33.5 286415 821550 SDAAa Allt an Aonaich above confluence 298 3.9 114 286250 821100 SDAAb Allt an Aonaich above track bridge 301 4.8 115 284258 822242 SDAAd Allt an Aonaich at Inscharn 331 2.0 163 284636 820638 SDAAe An Leth-allt 324 2.7 69 285500 820150 SDASa Allt an-t Slugain Dhuibh 316 2.0 34 278150 811200 SDFLa Feithlinn 475 4.4 54

Conductivity Microsiemens/cm 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

Figure 9: River Dulnain catchment electrofishing site conductivities 2015

The conductivity in the River Dulnain generally declines with altitude. Conductivities in some of the tributaries were considerably higher than in the mainstem at the point where they joined, e.g. Auchnahannet, Duthill, Batten Burns and the Allt an Aonaich. The Allt Lorgy has amongst the lowest conductivity readings in the Dulnain catchment.

The electrofishing results from the Dulnain sites are shown in the table below.

24 Table 14: River Dulnain electrofishing results 2015. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width.

Salmon Salmon Trout Site Code Date Location Area m2 fry parr Trout fry parr SD09 23/09/2015 Dulnain at Balnaan Bridge 112.1 159.7 19.6 5.4 0.0 SD41 23/09/2015 Dulnain at Inverlaidnan Br. 199.8 30.0 8.0 5.0 1.5 SD45 23/09/2015 Dulnain at Dalnahaitnach 226.2 48.6 11.9 1.8 0.0 SD73 17/08/2015 Dulnain at Suspension Bridge 172.1 8.7 1.2 2.9 1.2 SD88 15/09/2015 Dulnain at Pitmain Bothy 79.6 0.0 1.3 6.3 10.0 SDAHa 23/07/2015 Auchnahannet Burn below farm 81.1 233.0 39.0 16.0 27.1 SDAHb 23/07/2015 Auchnahannet Burn between bridges 64.8 54.0 43.2 18.5 13.9 SDAHc 23/07/2015 Auchnahannet Burn upper 60.2 83.1 1.7 74.8 38.2 SDDUa 29/07/2015 Duthil Burn above road 109.4 181.0 24.6 54.8 3.7 SDDUb 27/07/2015 Duthil Burn at Lyndeor 134.2 133.4 13.4 70.8 8.2 SDDUc 29/07/2015 Garrocher Burn at Auchterteang 88.7 5.6 15.8 7.9 21.4 SDBAa 20/07/2015 Batten Burn at watergate 85.4 212.0 23.4 25.8 12.9 SDBAd 21/07/2015 Batten Burn at anthills 98.6 257.6 12.2 34.5 7.1 SDALa 21/07/2015 Allt Lorgy above bridge 119.4 27.6 6.7 7.5 18.4 SDALb 21/07/2015 Allt Lorgy below Lethendrychule 94.9 136.9 13.7 25.2 13.7 SDALc 21/07/2015 Allt Lorgy upstream Lethendrychule 124 25.8 13.7 23.3 5.6 SDALe 21/07/2015 Allt Lorgy below ford 105.3 96.8 13.3 16.1 10.4 SDAAa 22/07/2015 Allt an Aonaich above confluence 119.5 310.7 8.4 57.7 6.7 SDAAb 22/07/2015 Allt an Aonaich above track bridge 93.9 290.0 8.5 38.3 5.3 SDAAd 22/07/2015 Allt an Aonaich at Inscharn 73.6 55.7 1.4 63.9 57.1 SDAAe 22/07/2015 An Leth-allt 58.7 34.1 6.8 8.5 11.9 SDASa 22/07/2015 Allt an-t Slugain Dhuibh 54.5 33.0 7.3 23.8 16.5 SDFLa 17/08/2015 Feithlinn 95 0.0 4.2 7.4 11.6

A statistical comparison between sites in the Dulnain surveyed in 2012 compared with the same sites in 2015 is shown in the table below. In each category the densities in 2015 were significantly higher than those recorded in 2012.

Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 Mean 42.5 122.9 8.2 15.6 9.7 23.3 4.1 9.4 Dulnain T-Test 0.006 0.02 0.02 0.01

25 River Dulnain electrofishing results 140 2012 120 2015 100

Number/100m2 40

0 Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr

Figure 10: River Dulnain comparison between 2012 and 2015 electrofishing surveys

Salmon were found in all sites although fry were absent at two. 78% of the salmon fry results were in the moderate to excellent categories although the equivalent figure for salmon parr was 56%. The trout results were good with 91% of the fry results in the top three categories and 74% for parr.

Five density sites were completed in the Dulnain mainstem from Balnaan Bridge to Pitmain Bothy in the headwaters. The results from all five sites were generally better than recorded in 2012 with the exception of SD73 in the upper reaches where the salmon fry density was much lower than recorded in 2012. The series of annual surveys completed at site SD73 provides an insight into the dynamics of the salmon population in one of the more peripheral parts of the catchment (Table 13). Although the dataset at the site is not complete it appears that only occasionally is a good density of salmon fry established through natural spawning, 2012 being the last such occasion. Arising from the 2012 good fry cohort the salmon parr densities in 2013/14 were in the excellent category declining to very poor in 2015. The assumption made is that the surviving parr arising from the 2012 fry crop would have smolted in 2015 as three year old smolts, departing prior to the electrofishing survey.

The sequence of results from this regularly monitored site suggests that fry recruitment is a limiting factor. This could be due to a number of factors such as low numbers of spawning fish, intermittent availability of stable spawning gravel, redd washout etc. Additional monitoring such as redd counting may help inform the situation although it is possible that only in years when there is a large run of fish are adequate numbers of spawning fish reaching these more peripheral parts of the catchment.

At site SD45, the Dulnain mainstem at Dalnahaitnach, the salmon parr density recorded in 2015 was 11.9/100m2, identical to 2013 but well below the 42.7/100m2 recorded in 2013. However, the proportion of the salmon parr larger than 90mm during the late summer survey was the highest recorded over the course of these three surveys and the total number of larger parr was more than double that present in 2013. The mean size of the salmon fry in 2015 was also the largest recorded during the three surveys. So despite the parr density in 2015 being only 28% of that recorded in 2013 the size distribution indicates that the smolt production emanating from the fish present at that site in 2016 will be the highest out of the three years sampled.

26 Table 15: Electrofishing site history site SD73, upper River Dulnain. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width. Site SD73- Dulnain Suspension Bridge Salmon Salmon Trout Trout Date fry parr fry parr 17/08/2015 8.7 1.2 2.9 1.2 25/09/2014 7.5 21.1 4.5 6 16/09/2013 4.5 21.8 0.0 3.2 11/10/2012 28.0 2.9 0.7 2.2 04/09/2011 12.9 8.2 1.4 2.1 05/08/2010 2.9 1.9 0.0 1.0 23/08/2009 0.7 2.1 1.4 0.0 04/09/2008 4.2 8.4 2.8 0.0 02/08/2005 16.0 0.0 3.0 2.0 25/08/2004 2.5 3.8 0.0 1.3 05/08/2003 9.0 6.0 6.0 0.7 08/09/1999 21.4 2.6 15.4 2.6 06/08/1998 4.7 2.7 2.7 2.8 30/07/1997 0.0 9.5 0.0 0.7

The results from the habitat restoration sites in the lower Auchnahannet Burn were good to excellent for salmon with trout fry densities in the moderate category. A new site was surveyed in the upper Auchnahannet Burn for the first time in 2015 (site SDAHc). This site was located on the moorland fringe and surprisingly it supported a good density of salmon fry for such a small burn. The excellent trout population was more typical of small moorland burns of this nature (Table 12).

Table 16: Site SDAHc in the upper Auchnahannet Burn. A surprisingly good salmon fry density was recorded in this small burn on the moorland fringe.

The Duthil and Batten Burn surveys recorded excellent salmon fry populations in most sites with good to moderate salmon parr. The trout population was similar; these burns are productive tributaries of the Dulnain and continue to support high densities of juvenile salmonids.

The middle reaches of the Allt Lorgy were subject to a recent habitat restoration project. Most of the results were in the moderate to excellent categories. Site SDALb is located in the middle of the restoration project and it has been surveyed annually since 2012. The results in 2014 were poor for all categories but the overall improving trend is clear (Table 15).

Table 17: Electrofishing results Allt Lorgy site SDALb. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width. Site SDALb -Allt Lorgy Salmon Salmon Trout Trout Date fry parr fry parr 21/07/2015 136.9 13.7 25.2 13.7 03/09/2014 9.7 8.9 10.4 4.5 05/09/2013 39.4 13.7 4.8 7.2 03/08/2012 33.8 3.0 3.0 2.4

Figure 11: Allt Lorgy site SDALb 2015. The burn is now starting to meander with a well-defined thalweg present.

The Allt an Aonaich (also known as Slochd Burn) joins the Dulnain a short distance below Inverlaidnan. Salmon fry densities in the lower two sites were very high. At both these sites the habitat was more suited to fry although the upper of the two sites has in the past supported higher densities of parr. The banks are extensively grazed at both these sites although this appears to be a longstanding practice in that location. The upper site, at Insharn supported a much higher density of salmon fry than previously recorded along with the usual excellent trout population. Whilst surveying the Insharn site the gamekeeper mentioned seeing spawning salmon in the An Leth-Allt, a previously unsurveyed tributary of the Allt an Aonaich. A new survey site was established in that

28 burn where salmon fry and parr were found to be present. Most of the salmon fry were less than 35mm in length; small for a site at 330m altitude at that time of year.

3.2.3 River Nethy

Thirteen density sites were surveyed in the River Nethy sub-catchment in 2015, including four on the mainstem. One new site in the upper Dorback Burn was surveyed for the first time and sites in the Faesheallach and Crom Allt, which had not been surveyed in 2012, but for which previous survey data were available, were surveyed. As in the Dulnain the conductivities recorded in the Nethy mainstem were generally lower than those recorded in the lower tributaries. The Duack and Dorback were two burns where the conductivity readings were higher (Table 19/Figure 12).

Table 18: River Nethy 2015 electrofishing site details Easting Northing Site Location Altitude Ave width Conductivity Code m m 299833 820725 SNO4 River Nethy at sewage works 205 10.5 49.1 302250 816300 SN18 River Nethy at Forest Lodge 290 8.9 32 302100 814450 SN23 River Nethy at Inchtomach 310 9.3 30 302117 810490 SN32 River Nethy at Bynack Stable 348 7.2 24 299835 820390 SNDUa Duack Burn above road 210 3.15 76 299673 818167 SNDUb Duack Burn at Torehill Road 236 2.54 52 299300 816100 SNDUc Duack Burn at Straanruie 260 2.24 40 302494 819223 SNDOa Dorback Burn Lettoch Bridge 255 6.98 78 305855 816700 SNDOc Dorback Burn at Muckreach 310 5.56 70 308374 816335 SNDOd Dorback Burn at Upper Dell 360 4.32 59.8 303100 816400 SNFAa Faesheallach Burn 295 3.26 39.5 302769 816151 SNCRa Crom Allt 289 3.1 35.5 302842 814203 SNCRb Crom Allt 347 2.54 35

Nethy conductivity microsiemens/cm 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Figure 12: River Nethy catchment electrofishing site conductivity readings 2015

The results of the River Nethy density electrofishing surveys 2015 are shown in the table below.

29 Table 19: River Nethy electrofishing results 2015. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width.

Site Area Salmon Salmon Trout Trout Code Date Location m2 fry parr fry parr SNO4 17/08/2015 River Nethy at sewage works 113.7 68.7 7.9 4.4 3.5 SN18 03/08/2015 River Nethy at Forest Lodge 122.1 46.7 4.1 18.8 0.8 SN23 03/08/2015 River Nethy at Inchtomach 96.7 38.2 41.4 14.5 11.3 SN32 03/08/2015 River Nethy at Bynack Stable 102 0.0 0.0 19.6 25.4 SNDUa 04/08/2015 Duack Burn above road 67.6 17.7 25.1 34.0 59.1 SNDUb 31/07/2015 Duack Burn at Torehill Road 84.6 0.0 3.5 52.0 33.1 SNDUc 31/07/2015 Duack Burn at Straanruie 88.7 0.0 0.0 49.6 40.5 SNDOa 04/08/2015 Dorback Burn at Lettoch 99.1 73.7 9.1 6.0 4.0 SNDOc 04/08/2015 Dorback Burn at Muckreach 116.7 35.9 9.6 19.9 8.0 SNDOd 04/08/2015 Dorback Burn at Upper Dell 108.4 0.9 24.9 12.9 2.8 SNFAa 31/07/2015 Faesheallach Burn 75.3 25.2 2.7 29.2 1.3 SNCRa 31/07/2015 Crom Allt 67.6 56.2 1.5 41.4 4.4 SNCRb 31/07/2015 Crom Allt 67.1 0.0 0.0 137.1 20.9

A comparison between sites surveyed in 2012 compared to 2015 is shown in Table 17 below. In each category the densities in 2015 were higher than those recorded in 2012 but not significantly so for salmon parr.

Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 Mean 9.5 31.0 7.1 11.4 4.3 23.6 4.2 20.6 T-Test 0.049 0.44 0.004 0.01

River Nethy electrofishing results 35 2012 30

2015 25

Number/100m24 10

0 Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr

Figure 13: River Nethy comparison between 2012 and 2015 electrofishing surveys.

30 Salmon were absent from three of the sites surveyed in the Nethy, one of which was in the upper mainstem above an impassable waterfall with the other two in the upper reaches of small tributaries where trout dominate. Trout are quite a feature of the Nethy, even in the mainstem.

The Duack Burn supports a really excellent trout population throughout with a range of parr ages present. The salmon parr density was good in the lower site but rapidly diminished further upstream as trout became dominant.

The Dorback Burn is larger than the Duack and more important for salmon, which were present in all three sites surveyed. In the upper reaches the Dorback is highly mobile with considerable evidence of recent channel mobility and sediment movement. There was a good density of salmon parr in the upper site but the lack of channel stability is likely to have a negative impact on salmonid densities.

Figure 14: Braided section of the Dorback Burn upstream of site SNDOd

The Faesheallach Burn is a moderate sized tributary of the Nethy with history of previous surveys although it was not surveyed in 2012. The 2015 results are comparable with the results from earlier surveys although for both salmon and trout the fry densities were the best recorded.

The Crom Allt joins the Faesheallach before they join the Nethy opposite Lyngarrie. The entire middle and lower reaches of the Crom Allt flow through the expanding Abernethy Forest where Scots Pine dominates. It is an important sea trout spawning burn although salmon were present in the lower of the two survey sites.

Figure 15: Site SNCRa, lower Crom Allt in the Abernethy Forest. There were good densities of salmon and trout fry present in this site.

3.2.4 River Druie

The River Druie joins the Spey at Aviemore. The Druie splits into the river Luineag and the Am Beanaidh at Coylumbridge, both support salmon populations although they are quite different in character. Thirteen density sites were surveyed in the Druie sub-catchment in 2015 with the details provided in Table 18.

Table 20: River Druie electrofishing site details 2015 Easting Northing SiteCode River Altitude Average Conductivity m Width m µS/cm 290250 811100 SDR03 River Druie, Rothiemurchus Dell 213 15.8 30 293900 810200 SDR14 River Luineag, 1.5km below Loch 293 9.2 41 Morlich 295100 810400 SDR17 River Luineag, Badaguish 310 12.3 40 298500 809150 SDR25 Allt Mor, Glenmore Forest Lodge 335 7.9 32 298450 808450 SDR27 Allt Mor, at chute 360 5.3 30 298973 808902 SDRCa Allt na Ciste 348 3.3 27 292800 807800 SDRA08 Am Beanaidh, Cairngorm Club 300 11.6 25.5 Footbridge 293017 806370 SDRA12 Am Beanaidh, at island 350 6.0 23.5 292400 804450 SDRA17 Am Beanaidh, 1st ford 430 8.5 23.5 292300 801700 SDRA23 Am Beanaidh, 2nd ford 488 8.6 23.5 291700 799900 SDRA29 Am Beanaidh, Loch Einich 500 8.2 15.4 293300 807300 SDRAAa Allt Druidh at Allt Driue 320 4.9 25.2 292500 802850 SDRABBa Beanaidh Bheag at ford 470 8.2 15

Druie catchment conductivity 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Figure 16: River Druie electrofishing sites conductivity readings 2015

Conductivity readings were generally low in the Druie catchment with the readings from the Luineag higher.

The results of the River Druie electrofishing surveys are shown in the table below.

Table 21: River Druie electrofishing results 2014. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width. Salmon Salmon SiteCode Date River Area m2 fry parr Trout fry Trout parr SDR03 14/09/2015 River Druie, Rothiemurchus Dell 143.8 41.7 9.0 1.4 0.0 SDR14 14/09/2015 River Luineag, 1.5km below Loch Morlich 102.7 37.0 13.6 8.8 0.0 SDR17 14/09/2015 River Luineag, Badaguish 88.6 72.2 13.5 2.3 1.1 SDR25 14/09/2015 Allt Mor, Glenmore Forest Lodge 103.6 22.2 14.4 18.3 3.9 SDR27 15/09/2015 Allt Mor, at chute 115.9 0.0 0.0 0.9 11.2 SDRCa 15/09/2015 Allt na Ciste 66.1 0.0 0.0 7.6 21.1 SDRA08 18/09/2015 Am Beanaidh, Cairngorm Club Footbridge 111.7 5.4 8.1 1.8 0.9 SDRA12 16/09/2015 Am Beanaidh, at island 87.6 11.4 4.6 13.7 3.4 SDRA17 16/09/2015 Am Beanaidh, 1st ford 93.8 21.2 28.7 6.4 4.6 SDRA23 16/09/2015 Am Beanaidh, 2nd ford 121.4 9.1 7.4 1.6 2.5 SDRA29 16/09/2015 Am Beanaidh, Loch Einich 123.3 0.0 13.8 8.9 4.0 SDRAAa 18/09/2015 Allt Druidh at Allt Driue 86.5 4.6 2.3 10.4 2.3 SDRABBa 16/09/2015 Beanaidh Bheag at ford 98.7 9.1 0.0 23.3 2.0

The statistical comparison between sites surveyed in 2012 and 2015 are shown in the Table below. Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 Mean 19.8 23.6 9.6 11.2 4.9 8.0 1.6 3.3 Druie T-Test 0.73 0.69 0.37 0.27

33 River Druie electrofishing results 25 2012 20

2015

10 Number/100m2 5

0 Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr

Figure 17: River Druie comparison between 2012 and 2015 electrofishing surveys

It can be seen from Table 19 that the results in the Druie catchment were more mixed than in the Nethy for example. Whilst the fry and parr densities were higher in all cases there were no significant differences between them.

The densities of salmon and trout in the Luineag sites were generally higher than recorded in the Am Beanaidh. The Luineag is a much more stable river with excellent habitat quality through predominantly pine woodland with broadleaf trees present along the riparian margin.

Figure 18: Typical habitat in the River Luineag

Figure 19: An example of typical habitat in the lower Am Beanaidh. The gradient, and consequently stream power are high and unlike in the Luineag, there is no mid river loch to buffer peak flows. The lower Am Beanaidh is more mobile with considerable erosion of the extensively wooded riverbanks.

Upstream of Loch Morlich the Luineag becomes the Allt Mor. The salmonid densities in the site near Forest Lodge were reasonable but in the upper site, which is located just downstream of where the Cairngorm ski centre road crosses, no salmon were found in 2015. The Allt Mor in this area point is high gradient with torrent forming a high proportion of the flow. Due to the difficulty of electrofishing in such habitat the electrofishing site was relocated 50m downstream where the gradient was slightly lower, although still typical habitat for the area.

Figure 20: Torrent habitat in the Allt Mor

35 The electrofishing site history for the upper Allt Mor site is shown below. Salmon fry numbers have always been low at the site with slightly higher parr densities. The history indicates a downwards trend at this site for both salmon and trout, with 2007 a year with notably low densities.

Table 22: Electrofishing history Site SDR27, Allt Mor below Cairngorm ski cantre road. Allt Mor, Site SDR27 chute Altitude 360m Date Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr 15/09/2015 0.0 0.0 0.9 11.2 16/08/2012 3.6 7.2 0.0 9.0 08/09/2011 0.0 7.1 7.1 5.7 06/09/2007 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 05/09/2005 0.0 15.8 1.2 6.1 01/09/2004 0.0 11.7 10.5 7.0 15/08/2003 3.2 43.9 6.5 43.9 15/09/2000 3.6 7.1 5.4 9.9 27/08/1999 1.4 11.3 14.2 17.0

The next site downstream in the Allt Mor is located opposite Glenmore Lodge. The electrofishing history for this site is shown below. Fish densities have been more stable at this site, although salmon and trout parr densities have declined. The same significant reduction in fish densities was evident in 2007. 2007 was not a year when a large spate event was recorded in the Spey mainstem (Spey Foundation, 2015) but there may have been a more localised event which disturbed the fish population. The upper Allt Mor is a high gradient river and is susceptible to damage and instability in high flows.

Table 23: Glenmore Lodge electrofishing site history. Allt Mor, Site SDR25 Forest Lodge Altitude 335m Date Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr 14/09/2015 22.2 14.5 18.4 4.8 16/08/2012 16.9 15.5 16.9 2.2 06/09/2007 17.3 6.1 4.5 1.1 05/09/2005 20.1 24.9 2.6 3.2 02/09/2004 28.0 17.7 14.8 2.5 15/08/2003 29.0 24.4 26.7 5.8 15/09/2000 34.5 31.1 8.5 3.4 27/08/1999 27.6 28.1 14.7 8.8

In the Am Beanaidh the same pattern of higher fish densities in the middle reaches as identified during the timed electrofishing surveys (Section 3.1) were apparent. The electrofishing site history for site SDRA17 (at the 1st ford) are shown in the table below. The results in 2015 were comparable with the best recorded at that site.

36 Table 24: Am Beanaidh SDRA17 site at 1st ford electrofishing history SDRA17 Am Altitude Site - Beanaidh 1st ford 430m Salmon Salmon Trout Trout Date fry parr fry parr 16/09/2015 21.2 28.7 6.4 4.6 15/08/2012 18.2 15.6 1.3 1.3 08/09/2011 27.4 21.2 2.4 3.7 28/09/2009 25.2 25.2 1.1 1.1 18/09/2008 23.2 15.1 4.0 2.0 05/09/2007 20.5 15.7 3.6 2.4 05/09/2005 11.9 11.9 1.0 1.0 02/09/2004 22.0 13.0 10.0 1.0 19/09/2003 16.9 28.2 14.1 5.6 07/09/1999 17.2 17.2 2.5 0.0 27/08/1997 31.6 25.7 1.2 2.3

The upper Am Beanaidh site was located immediately below the outlet to Loch Einich. No salmon fry were recorded at this site in 2015 but the salmon parr and the trout fry and parr densities were the highest recorded in eight surveys extending back to 1997. However salmon fry were found during a timed salmon fry index survey completed 40m downstream of the density site at the loch outlet. Low numbers of salmon fry were recorded in what was more suitable fry habitat.

Figure 21: Salmon fry were recorded in the riffle habitat shown during a timed electrofishing survey a short distance below Loch Einich, although none were recorded in the density site directly below the loch outlet.

3.2.5 Spey Burns

Each year a number of the burns that flow directly into the Spey are surveyed. The burns surveyed in 2015 with site locations are detailed below.

Table 25: Spey burns electrofishing site details 2015 Easting Northing Site Location Altitude Ave Conductivity Code m width µS/cm m 334150 858250 SLB3a Fochabers Burn upstream bridge 92 4.5 230.0 334330 858675 SLB3b Fochabers Burn, Fochabers 95 2.9 232.0 327650 850200 SRBRa Broad Burn below distillery 120 4.6 170.0 326349 842710 SLB9a Aberlour Burn below main road 150 4.2 137.0 326467 842404 SLB9b Aberlour Burn above distillery 195 5.2 131.0 318200 841350 SLB15a Cally Burn below railway line 278 4.7 51.0 317514 837732 SLB18a Allt a'Gheallaidh, Speyside Way 320 6.6 39.0 315900 838400 SLB18c Allt a'Gheallaidh, Croftintaggart 348 5.8 42.0 312596 838600 SLB18d Allt a'Gheallaidh, below Alltvounnie 290 4.6 44.0 311100 840200 SLB18f Allt a'Gheallaidh, eroding bank 140 2.9 34.0 310868 840405 SLB18g Allt a'Gheallaidh, upper 175 3.1 37.0 312445 838721 SLB18e Allt a'Mhonaidh 260 1.7 54.3 314100 835200 SMB1 Burn of Advie, upstream railway 140 2.8 90.0 311900 836258 SMB2a Tulchan Burn, Old Mill 175 3.7 44.0 309500 837300 SMB2b Tulchan Burn, 3rd ford 260 3.8 35.7 310900 832200 SMB6a Dalvey Burn, upstream A95 170 3.3 85.0 310850 831200 SMB6b Dalvey Burn, upstream track culvert 190 4.2 87.0 311164 829815 SMB6c Dalvey Burn, above road 243 1.8 75.7 307900 826300 SMB10b Cromdale Burn below track bridge 243 2.6 69.0 301275 827615 SMB14d Glenbeg Burn below track bridge 228 2.2 109.0 300547 828882 SMB14e Glenbeg Burn at third ford 250 2.7 106.0 294800 818150 SMB17 Loch Mallachie Burn 207 1.7 98.0 293900 814400 SMB19 Milton Burn 238 3.7 56.3 287900 810750 SMB23 Allt na Criche 236 3.8 32.9 285541 809339 SMB24f Allt na Fhearna, below A9 216 5.6 50.0 285275 809129 SMB24e Allt na Fhearna, upstream A9 218 4.7 57.4 286362 804229 SFEMAb Allt a'Mharcaidh straightened section 255 3.5 34.2 286976 804787 SFEMAc Allt a'Mharcaidh middle 263 4.0 30.3 282400 804500 SUB1b Dunachton Burn below old A9 226 6.8 52.6 281950 805000 SUB1a Dunachton Burn at Lodge 235 4.5 44.1 278950 802150 SUB2a Raitts Burn between old & new A9 238 4.4 38.0 260100 793606 SUB12b Mashie Burn at Duchally 253 3.3 56.5 258700 791200 SUB12a Mashie Burn below A82 260 5.8 56.5

38 Spey burns conductivity 2015 250.0

200.0

150.0

100.0

50.0

0.0

Axis Title

Figure 22: Spey burns electrofishing site conductivities 2015 (µS/cm)

The range of conductivities’ recorded in 2015 was similar to previous years with higher readings in some of the lower burns. The burns in the Grantown area were also slightly higher, e.g. Advie, Dalvey, Cromdale and Glenbeg burns. This underlying productivity is the basis for the good fish populations in virtually all the burns in the Grantown area.

The burns surveyed in 2015 were selected for a number of reasons, primarily according to the three year rota; whilst others were to investigate fish access e.g. Glenbeg Burn or in connection with renewable developments Allt a’Gheallaidh. Other burns where stocking had taken place are reported below. Site selection within each watercourse was often to investigate fish access or penetration upstream e.g. Glenbeg. Therefore the results will be mixed as they represent the fish populations present in response to those, and other issues. The results from the 2015 surveys in Spey burns are shown in the table below.

39 Table 26: Spey burns electrofishing 2015. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width Salmon Trout SiteCode Date Location Salmon fry parr Trout fry parr SLB3a 13/07/2015 Fochabers Burn upstream bridge 0.0 0.0 26.3 0.0 SLB3b 13/07/2015 Fochabers Burn, Fochabers 0.0 0.0 60.4 0.0 SRBRa 13/07/2015 Broad Burn below distillery 80.4 2.8 141.0 8.5 SLB9a 17/07/2015 Aberlour Burn below main road 131.3 38.0 56.4 9.8 SLB9b 17/09/2015 Aberlour Burn above distillery 179.9 27.1 27.1 12.7 SLB15a 12/08/2015 Cally Burn below railway line 87.4 16.1 27.5 8.6 SLB18a 12/08/2015 Allt a'Gheallaidh, Speyside Way 89.8 6.1 15.9 2.3 SLB18c 09/09/2015 Allt a'Gheallaidh, Croftintaggart 31.2 11.2 28.0 8.8 SLB18d 07/09/2015 Allt a'Gheallaidh, below Alltvounnie 0.0 0.0 106.1 10.1 SLB18f 08/08/2015 Allt a' Gheallaidh, eroding bank 0.0 0.0 77.0 14.2 SLB18g 08/09/2015 Allt a'Gheallaidh, upper 0.0 0.0 180.1 8.1 SLB18e 07/09/2015 Allt a'Mhonaidh 0.0 0.0 128.2 4.0 SMB1 14/07/2015 Burn of Advie, upstream railway 261.7 8.4 140.9 31.9 SMB2a 20/08/2015 Tulchan Burn, Old Mill 51.2 20.5 81.9 10.2 SMB2b 20/08/2015 Tulchan Burn, 3rd ford 19.5 9.1 92.4 16.9 SMB6a 14/07/2015 Dalvey Burn, upstream A95 134.5 32.6 107.3 23.1 SMB6b 14/07/2015 Dalvey Burn,upstream track culvert 2.8 12.3 79.5 30.3 SMB6c 14/07/2015 Dalvey Burn, above road 30.6 2.6 113.7 85.6 SMB10b 23/07/2015 Cromdale Burn below track bridge 39.5 0.0 31.9 49.7 SMB14d 02/10/2015 Glenbeg Burn below track bridge 10.0 0.0 94.0 58.4 SMB14e 02/10/2015 Glenbeg Burn at third ford 0.0 0.0 151.2 20.8 SMB17 30/07/2015 Loch Mallachie Burn 9.1 7.3 1.8 3.6 SMB19 30/07/2015 Milton Burn, Rothiemurchus 0.0 4.6 51.2 26.2 SMB23 30/07/2015 Allt na Criche 0.0 0.0 47.2 16.1 SMB24f 10/09/2015 Allt na Fhearna, below A9 0.0 0.0 2.7 15.4 SMB24e 10/09/2015 Allt na Fhearna, upstream A9 0.0 0.0 2.6 25.9 SFEMAb 24/09/2015 Allt a'Mharcaidh straightened section 21.2 2.6 19.8 9.2 SFEMAc 24/09/2015 Allt a'Mharcaidh middle 13.9 1.7 10.4 5.2 SUB1b 03/09/2015 Dunachton Burn below old A9 11.1 2.3 2.9 0.0 SUB1a 03/09/2015 Dunachton Burn at Lodge 0.0 2.0 14.3 1.1 SUB2a 30/07/2015 Raitts Burn between old & new A9 6.3 3.6 0.9 1.8 SUB12b 24/09/2015 Mashie Burn at Duchally 3.1 10.7 8.4 0.8 SUB12a 24/09/2015 Mashie Burn below A82 0.0 15.4 7.1 4.7

The statistical analysis comparing the 2015 results with the same sites surveyed in 2012 are shown in the table below. Only for trout fry were the results significant, although for salmon fry and trout parr they were very close. In all cases the 2015 mean results were higher than in 2012

Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 2012 2015 Spey Mean 16.39 67.92 9.79 10.66 23.28 63.42 9.44 19.34 burns T-Test 0.06 0.78 0.01 0.09

Spey burns electrofishing results 80 2012 70 2015

60 50 40 30

Number/100m2 20 10 0 Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr

Figure 23: Spey burns comparison of 2012 and 2015 electrofishing surveys

It can be seen that in burns downstream of Aviemore the trout fry populations were almost all in the good or very good categories. The number of spawning sea trout present upstream of the Aviemore area appears to be less than in tributaries below (Spey DSFB staff, pers, comm.) and the high numbers of trout fry downstream of that area may reflect the greater fecundity (egg deposition) of female sea trout compared to resident river trout. Particularly high trout parr densities were recorded in some of the burns, e.g. Dalvey, Cromdale and Glenbeg.

Due to the effects of canalisation and spate damage sustained in 2009 the habitat in the Fochabers Burns remains poor for salmonids other than fry. The substrate continues to be dominated by gravel and pebbles and the bankside grasses and herbs provide little in the way of parr habitat, especially for overwintering.

Salmon were found only in the lower two Allt a’Gheallaidh sites surveyed but the trout population in the upper four sites was good, particularly the fry year class.

Naturally spawned salmon fry were recorded in the upper Cromdale Burn site; one of the few occasions when this has occurred. In the Glenbeg Burn salmon fry were recorded upstream of the A95 culvert for the second successive year.

The absence of salmon in the Allt na Criche, a burn that joins the Spey on the left bank a short distance upstream of Aviemore, is of concern. A ramp immediately upstream of the A9 may be a barrier to fish passage; it certainly would have been for large fish when the photo below was taken (Nov 2015). The works associated with the dualling of the A9 may provide an opportunity to improve fish passage.

Figure 24: Rock and concrete ramp in the Allt na Craiche upstream of the A9. It may be possible to improve this situation as a result of the A9 dualling.

The results in the Dunachton Burn were poor in comparison to previous surveys for reasons unknown. The existing fish pass under the A9 will be replaced with an open arch culvert with natural river bed during the dualling of the A9 which should be of great benefit to the fish population.

3.3.6 Stocking monitoring

In 2015 twenty two previously stocked sites were surveyed to assess the survival and growth of the stocked fish. All sites had been stocked with 0+ fish in September 2013 and/or 2014. One of the Dullan Water, and two of the Tommore Burn surveys were completed in early October permitting an assessment of the fry stocked in 2015. Site details are provided in the table below.

Table 27: Spey stocked sites electrofishing details 2015. Easting Northing SiteCode Altitude River Average Conductivity m Width m µS/cm

307340 828793 SMB10e 183 Cromdale Burn, sewage works 3.4 90.1 307650 828100 SMB10a 200 Cromdale Burn, Old Mill 3.3 76 328084 849581 BOR4 65 Rothes Burn, d/s road 6.9 58 327957 849351 BOR7 67 Rothes Burn, d/s road 4.9 88 326600 848950 SRc 80 Rothes Burn, upstream weir 6.3 76 327376 850180 SRBRb 80 Broad Burn, upstream fish pass 3.3 131 326290 851620 SRBRd 125 Broad Burn, downstream fishery 2.1 n/a 326680 851370 SRBRc 120 Millfordstone Burn 3.3 88 333550 839400 FCB1 170 Corrie Burn, lower 2.1 n/a 333587 838585 FCB2A 175 Corrie Burn, middle 2.3 n/a 333626 838507 FCB3 180 Corrie Burn, upper 2.9 n/a 336249 839898 FBM2 185 Burn of Mackalea, lower 2.4 n/a 360295 890873 FBM1 190 Burn of Mackalea, upper 2.1 n/a

42 319294 835098 TOM1 190 Burn of Tommore 3.7 66 319874 835670 SA1b 208 Burn of Tommore 2.3 44 320005 835791 SA1c 212 Burn of Tommore 2.7 44 320802 835797 SA1e 285 Burn of Tommore 2.2 57.7 330400 836700 FD4 218 Dullan Water, Balliemore Bridge 5.8 260 328500 834350 FD1 255 Dullan Water, Milton of Laggan 4.2 n/a 288750 823880 D5E 305 Batten Burn 3.3 52 288635 824412 D5F 315 Batten Burn 5.3 51

Table 28: Spey stocked burns electrofishing results 2015. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width. Area Salmon Site Code Date River fished m2 Salmon fry parr Trout fry Trout parr BOR4 09/07/2015 Rothes Burn, d/s road 89.0 18.1 1.1 224.7 0.0 BOR7 09/07/2015 Rothes Burn, d.s road 84.2 32.1 1.2 216.2 0.0 SRc 13/07/2015 Rothes Burn, upstream weir 87.6 0.0 0.0 37.6 2.3 SRBRb 09/07/2015 Broad Burn, upstream fish pass 99.4 45.4 3.0 208.2 5.0 SRBRd 03/07/2015 Broad Burn, downstream fishery 53.8 0.0 0.0 9.3 5.6 SRBRc 09/07/2015 Millfordstone Burn 61.1 0.0 0.0 219.3 9.8 FCB1 01/07/2015 Corrie Burn, lower 71 0.0 1.4 36.7 1.4 FCB2A 01/07/2015 Corrie Burn, middle 78.9 0.0 2.5 20.3 5.1 FCB3 01/07/2015 Corrie Burn, upper 77.8 0.0 3.9 2.6 10.3 FBM2 03/07/2015 Burn of Mackalea, lower 78.2 1.3 2.6 181.1 3.8 FBM1 03/07/2015 Burn of Mackalea, upper 44.3 22.5 2.3 370.2 11.3 TOM1 02/10/2015 Burn of Tommore 79.9 47.6 5.0 7.5 10.0 SA1b 09/07/2015 Burn of Tommore 91 0.0 22.0 6.6 16.5 SA1c 09/07/2015 Burn of Tommore 70.5 0.0 12.8 9.9 15.6 SA1e 02/10/2015 Burn of Tommore 76.6 45.7 11.7 3.9 19.6 FD4 03/07/2015 Dullan Watter, Balliemore Bridge 117.6 1.7 0.9 232.1 5.1 FD4 01/10/2015 Dullan Watter, Balliemore Bridge 122.7 30.2 3.3 114.1 10.6 FD1 03/07/2015 Dullan Water, Milton of Laggan 82.4 0.0 0.0 173.5 48.5 SMB10e 15/07/2015 Cromdale Burn, sewage works 146.5 141.3 31.4 49.1 15.0 SMB10a 15/07/2015 Cromdale Burn, Old Mill 155.3 390.1 18.7 81.1 7.7 D5E 20/07/2015 Batten Burn 105.5 0.0 2.8 5.7 7.6 D5F 20/07/2015 Batten Burn 92.3 0.0 7.7 1.1 4.3

Salmon parr were found at most sites, where they were absent the sites were generally at the upstream end of the stocked area.

Some of the sites were in accessible reaches, e.g. Rothes and Cromdale burns. These locations were stocked in Sept 2014 following pollution incidents earlier that year. In the Rothes burn sites natural spawning had established salmon and trout fry populations although trout were present in much higher densities. Trout parr were absent in the Rothes Burn sites; a consequence of the 2014 pollution incident. The salmon parr present in the Rothes Burn had been fin-clipped i.e. stocked in 2014. In both the Cromdale Burn sites excellent densities of salmon fry were recorded with good densities of salmon parr present. In the upper Cromdale Burn site 45% of the parr present were fin- clipped whilst in the lower site all the parr were from natural recruitment. The 2015 monitoring found that the salmonids populations in both burns had recovered well following the pollution incidents with the stocking enhancing the salmon parr densities.

In the Broad Burn low numbers of salmon parr were present, with those present likely to be of stocked origin. The good, and excellent, densities of salmon, and trout, fry respectively recorded in the site upstream of the Broad Burn distillery cooling water intake were in marked contrast to

43 previous surveys at that location. These improved fry densities occurred in advance of the installation of the fish pass at the intake in June 2015. The most plausible explanation for the large increase in both salmon and trout fry densities is that the intake structure became passable when it was washed out by the August 2014 spate. The intake was reinstated but not until later in the year providing an opportunity for spawning salmon and sea trout to migrate upstream to spawn. The new fish pass installed in June 2015 has been found to be successful with sea trout observed passing upstream at spawning time and multiple redds recorded upstream. Further improvements in the salmonid population in the upper Broad Burn are anticipated.

Table 29: Site SRBRb in the Broad Burn upstream of the Speyburn distillery intake. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width Site SRBRb - Broad Burn u/s distillery Altitude = 80m

Date Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr Stocked 09/07/2015 43.3 3.0 208.2 5.0 Yes 07/07/2014 0.0 0.0 11.7 0.8 Yes 02/08/2013 0.0 0.0 16.4 0.0 Yes 02/07/2012 0.0 3.8 10.7 0.6 Yes

Figure 25: Speyburn Distillery fish pass on the Broad Burn October 2015.

Similar increases in trout and salmon densities were recorded in the Burn of Mackalea following the installation of the fish pass in 2014. Excellent densities of trout fry were recorded in both sites with salmon fry also recorded.

The monitoring in the Tommore Burn continues to find stocking in that burn to be more successful compared than most other stocked locations. The average parr density of the stocked salmon at the four monitoring sites was in the moderate category whilst during the two sites surveyed in October good densities of recently stocked, fin-clipped, salmon fry were recorded. The smolt trap installed in the lower reaches of the Tommore Burn in 2015 provides an additional level of monitoring and a means of assessing survival of the stocked fish through to smolting. The smolts exiting the burn in

44 2015 were almost exclusively two years old. Trapping in future years will allow an assessment of the contribution of each years stocking to the smolt production.

The Dullan Water continues to be dominated by juvenile trout with excellent trout fry densities in both sites. The lower site at Balliemore Bridge was resurveyed in October to monitor the September stocking. The results from this survey show that the stocking had been successful with the salmon fry density increasing from 1.7 to 30.2/100m2. The fry recorded during the earlier survey were from natural spawning proving that a limited number of salmon are able to ascend the fish passes on the weirs in Dufftown.

In the Batten Burn the number of stocked salmon, and naturally occurring trout, present were either in the low or very low categories. This is in marked contrast to the excellent densities recorded in the accessible, lower reaches, of the Batten Burn.

3.3.7 River Fiddich

Four sites were surveyed in the upper Fiddich during the collection of baseline data for a renewables development. The same four sites had been surveyed in 2014. The electrofishing site details, conductivity and fish densities are shown in the tables below.

Table 30: River Fiddich electrofishing site details Date Easting Northing Site Altitude Situation Ave Conductivity Code m width µS/cm m 07/08/2015 334145 835812 F5 248 Fiddich below Bridgehaugh 5.85 166 07/08/2015 333156 835253 F7 260 Fiddich smolt trap 5.96 156 05/08/2015 331500 833150 F4 300 Glenfiddich lodge 6.05 174 05/08/2015 331994 831858 F6 345 Pantry Burn confluence 4.0 172

Conductivity levels in the Fiddich are amongst the highest in the Spey catchment, even in the headwaters; the result of favourable underlying geology.

River Fiddich 2015 density sites conductivity 200 180

160 140 120 100 80 60 Microsiemens/cm 40 20 0 Fiddich below Fiddich smolt Glenfiddich lodge Pantry Burn Bridgehaugh trap confluence

Figure 26: River Fiddich electrofishing site conductivities 2015 (µS/cm)

45 The salmon fry densities recorded during the first run of the four fully quantitative sites completed in the Fiddich were higher than those recorded in 2014 (+27.8%) whilst for parr densities were lower (- 44.8%); a pattern noted in other areas also surveyed last year e.g. Spey salmon fry index surveys and quantitative mainstem surveys. The timed electrofishing surveys in the upper Fiddich found that the upper limit of salmon fry in 2015 was at least 3.5km further downstream compared to 2014. However in the uppermost site where salmon were present the parr density was considerably higher than in 2014. These sites will be surveyed annually as part of a wind farm monitoring contract which will enable high quality data to be collected from this important tributary.

Table 31: River Fiddich electrofishing 2015. Results are expressed as fish density per 100m2 and colour coded according to the SFCC Moray Firth region classification corrected for stream width Area Site fished Salmon Salmon Trout Trout Code Date Location m2 fry parr fry parr F5 07/08/2015 Fiddich below Bridgehaugh 90.7 113.6 14.3 39.7 4.4 F7 07/08/2015 Fiddich smolt trap 166.90 71.9 13.8 91.7 3.0 F4 05/08/2015 Fiddich Glenfiddich lodge 90.75 45.2 15.4 98.1 8.8 F6 05/08/2015 Fiddich Pantry Burn confluence 103.6 1.0 9.6 54.1 59.8

4 Summary and Conclusions

 60 salmon fry index timed electrofishing surveys were completed in the Spey mainstem with salmon fry were present in all sites downstream of Spey Dam.  82% of the Spey fry index sites, downstream of Spey Dam, were in the moderate to excellent categories.  Upstream of Spey Dam salmon fry were found at 70% of the survey sites although all in very low or low categories.  Salmon parr counts during the fry index surveys were down compared to 2013/14 with similar findings in the Spey mainstem density surveys.  The salmon fry index surveys in the Dulnain found that although the counts were higher than recorded in 2012 there was no significant difference between 2012 and 2015.  Salmon fry were found in all the Nethy index sites with the normal pattern of declining counts with altitude.  The salmon fry index counts in the Luineag were in the moderate to good categories at all sites.  In the Am Beanaidh the distribution of fry was atypical with higher counts found in the middle and upper sites. Channel instability in the lower reaches was highlighted.  Overall statistically significant increases in densities of salmon, and trout, fry and parr were recorded at the sites surveyed in both 2012 and 2015.  In the Dulnain density sites salmon and trout fry, and parr, were significantly higher than recorded in 2012.  Monitoring of habitat restoration sites in the Dulnain catchment highlighted the value of such work, where opportunities exist, with improved fish densities in both diffuse pollution and morphological target areas.  Annual monitoring of site in the upper Dulnain suggests that spawning stock abundance may limit production in more peripheral areas of the catchment.  In the Nethy significant increases in salmon and trout fry, and trout parr, were recorded compared to 2012.

46  In the Druie monitoring sites there were no significant differences in juvenile salmonid populations compared to 2012.  In the burns monitoring sites only trout fry densities were significantly higher than recorded in 2012.  Improved juvenile salmonid populations were recorded where fish passage improvements had been installed in the Mackalea and Broad Burns.  Monitoring in the Tommore Burn continues to produce positive results with the smolt trap adding additional value and outputs.  Parr densities recorded in 2015 in some sites were lower than recorded during recent surveys at the same sites however the parr present at these sites were of greater average size, highlighting the plasticity of the salmon lifecycle and their ability to cope with population disturbances.

47 5 Survey limitations

1. Electrofishing is a common means of obtaining data on juvenile salmonid populations (SEERAD 2007); however, it is only effective in shallow streams.

2. The survey sites chosen were selected to be representative of the general habitat type present within each sub-catchment and to include a range of flow and substrate types. The SFCC protocol recommends that the minimum survey length is six times the mean channel width at the site, with a minimum of 20m length (SFCC 2007). If the site selected is representative of the local habitat the survey should provide a robust estimate of local fish populations. However, it is possible that if fish populations are low or have a clumped distribution, the data from an electrofishing site may not adequately sample the full range of fish species present in that area.

3. All of the results presented in this report are from single runs or the first run from multiple run surveys. Single run electrofishing surveys have no measure of fishing efficiency, which will vary from site to site depending on environmental conditions and equipment used. In order to compensate for variable efficiency at any site, depletion sampling, where fish are removed from a site in a series of successive electrofishing runs, can be used to provide an estimate of the total fish population present. The rate of decline in each run and the total number of fish captured are used to estimate fish stocks. However, this form of surveying is time consuming and would restrict the number of sites which could be surveyed each year. Some of the sites were surveyed using a multiple run methodology providing a more detailed assessment of fish populations.

4. It is considered that it is impossible to prove the absence of fish by electrofishing, therefore, whilst the failure to capture fish at a site may indicate that the population is low, but it cannot be assumed that fish are necessarily absent.

6. References

Godfrey, J.D. (2005). Site Condition Monitoring of Atlantic Salmon SACs. Report by the SFCC to Scottish Natural Heritage, Contract F02AC608

Lamburn, C. (1996). River Fiddich Cooling Water Discharge Project Report 1996. Spey Foundation.

Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. Scottish Fisheries Research Report. Number 67, 2007. On the application of electro-fishing data to produce census estimates of juvenile salmonid populations within defined areas. Part A – A brief overview of electro-fishing (EF) procedures. P.J. Bacon and A.F. Youngson.

Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre. Electrofishing Team Leader. Training Course Manual. June 2007.

Spey Foundation 2015. River Spey flows, spates and impacts on rod catch.