Many years ago I was fortunate enough to travel to the Kola Peninsula for a fishing holiday.

It was a great experience although I caught few fish. The target species was Atlantic salmon, but the River Kharlovka supported a few other species that piqued my interest.

A fellow fisher caught a fine sea-run Arctic charr. We have charr in Scotland but they tend to be diminutive and they do not venture into the marine environment, instead remaining confined to lochs and a few stretches of river.

My fishing guide, the local biologist, pointed out with some embarrassment the presence of dying pink salmon. I was very interested to learn how Pacific salmon had found their way onto the Atlantic seaboard. It transpires that they were introduced into the rivers to create a fishery and associated food source.

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