While habitat restoration is under way, the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board is pioneering two different conservation methods.
Flooding, extreme temperatures, and droughts along the River Dee have resulted in what could be the worst salmon season recorded for anglers — but urgent conservation work is planned to protect the species.
For the last five years, the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board has recorded “very low” numbers of salmon caught in the river.
And as this season draws to a close, they say it is “guaranteed to be the worst season” on record.
In order to safeguard the River Dee’s salmon population, the board detailed two pioneering conservation projects at the recent annual general meeting.
Lorraine Hawkins, river director, explained the most crucial factor is restoring the natural habitat.
Although work is well under way with the tree-planting programme and other projects, such as the removal of the Garlogie dam, it could take years to completely restore the river.
With some of the salmon sub-populations already “potentially close to extinction” she said there “isn’t time to wait”.