In a remarkable moment for the species, a juvenile salmon has been observed in a river for the first time on record.
The tiny fish, discovered during a Trent Rivers Trust survey on the Bottle Brook, offers key insight into salmon movement and supports conservationists’ efforts to promote their recovery across the Derwent catchment area.
With no prior records on the Bottle Brook, this survey suggests that Atlantic salmon may be more widespread in the River Derwent and its tributaries than previously believed. A small beacon of hope in what has been a bleak few years for the species.
The Bottle Brook is a tributary of the Derbyshire Derwent, which is itself a tributary of the River Trent – a river where efforts to improve fish migration have taken place over recent years, such as the installation of a fish pass at Colwick.
Dr Scott McKenzie, from TRT, hopes the find can kickstart efforts to aid the wider recovery of threatened freshwater species.
“It’s clear that Atlantic salmon in the UK are in crisis, facing a myriad of threats,” he said.
“A record like this salmon is important for organisations like us to build on. We can now work to improve the habitat in the Bottle Brook to increase the number of spots salmon can spawn on.
“Anglers are the eyes and ears of our rivers. Their catches can help guide our restoration efforts and ensure we restore habitats where they will have the biggest impact. If you do catch a salmon on the Trent or tributaries, we’d hugely appreciate it if people could let us know."
Tim Jacklin, Conservation Officer at the Wild Trout Trust, added: “This is a significant step in the recovery of migratory fish in the River Derwent and its tributaries, and justifies the hard work in removing the many barriers they face.”
