The River Stinchar estuary in South Ayrshire was subject to situation that arises on the Stinchar periodically when strong sea tides and low water in the river meant that a large build-up of gravel blocked the river mouth to downstream migrating juvenile salmon.

This local phenomenon means that wave action throws tonnes of shingle into a raised bank that can block the river mouth causing it to percolate through the gravel rather than over it, leaving no way out for juvenile salmon migrating to the sea and no way in for adult salmon returning to the river. With the extended dry weather, the flow and water quantity in the river has reduced significantly due to the current water scarcity situation.

The blockage could not have come at a worse time – the annual downstream smolt migration was well underway and this barrier effectively trapped thousands of young salmon in contained pools just metres from free access to the sea and relative safe sanctuary in the wider marine environment.

The Trust and Board quickly planned a rescue operation with contractors W Hyslop & Sons to cut a channel from the river pool to the sea. This involved a significant amount of liaison with a number of organisations, including a swift response from the Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team, liaison with NatureScot and support from Fisheries Management Scotland to secure the necessary licence to undertake the required work on the foreshore to cut a channel.

This was a job well done. Wild salmon were given free access to the sea to continue their migration. The work was delivered by working with a range of partners, as quickly and sensitively as possible, with no impact on nesting birds and other biodiversity.