The Suitability of the Upstream Gala Water for Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Spawning

• Main Author: Eyre, Edward
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Fishing River; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.24384/mf96-2822; https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/f3ceb7af-b902-442e-b027-61c6d79ac257/1/Poster.pdf; https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/f3ceb7af-b902-442e-b027-61c6d79ac257/1/Presentation slides.pdf; https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/f3ceb7af-b902-442e-b027-61c6d79ac257/1/https://brookes.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=9d3bf84e-1717-4d9e-a86b-ad0800e14bdb

Stocks of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have been in decline both in the United Kingdom and across the entirety of their range. This decline is likely due to a blend of anthropogenic and natural causes, such as higher marine mortality, pollution of rivers, overfishing and loss of spawning habitat. In order to stabilise, restore and maintain a healthy salmon population, it is vital to identify and protect spawning habitat. The Gala Water is a tributary of the River Tweed, a major salmon fishing river, and thus presents a potentially important spawning location. This study reviews the depth, velocity, vegetation and land use of a 2.27 kilometre section of the upstream Gala Water in order to determine its suitability as a habitat for salmon spawning. It also conducts a broad scale review of downstream environments with the aim of identifying any obstacles or features inhibiting salmon migration. The study found that the upstream Gala Water exhibits a very suitable depth and velocity for salmon spawning based on previous research into active redd locations. It further provides abundant cover through well vegetated natural banks, deep pools, and anthropogenic features such as bridges and rip rap. Downstream, the Tweed and Gala Water suffer from some mild pollution from the towns of Galashiels and Selkirk, but their rural nature leaves them free from industrial level pollution that would inhibit migration. With the instillation of the salmon ladder at Skinworks Cauld in Galashiels, there is nothing to inhibit salmon from accessing the upstream Gala Water. Combined with the hydraulic and floral characteristics of said area, the upstream Gala Water provides a very suitable habitat for Atlantic salmon spawning.