Could it be possible that Salmon numbers are being Manipulated?

 Reading through the river Maine TEGOS report on the river Maine last year there were 150 salmon caught and released on the river. That sounds great but if you look back at the previous four years an average of 16 fish were caught and released. So that would roughly be a 1000% percent increase in Salmon caught and released last year on our glorious river Maine. Now I am not saying this isn't true! I hope it is but it doesn't seem logical. Lets look at the figures, the draft net had a bad year with the Maine consisting of a percentage of the draft net in Cromane, the figure 145 fish! That means the draft net had the worst year in five years. So how do we have the best year ever to rod and line in 2022. In 2022 on the river Maine 200 salmon were caught to rod and line. That means the anglers done better than the nets! Let me explain the draft net situation in Cromane, because the draft nets in Cromane are a barrier to migrating Salmon into the river Maine, the IFI use a percentage of the overall catch from Cromane to make up the catch limit for the river Maine. This was all sorted out years ago when a scientific report came up with the mixed stock fishery in Castlemaine harbour. Basically the scientists stated that a percentage of fish getting caught in nets in Cromane were destined for the river Maine. So a percentage is added into the conservation limit. Altogether the conservation limit is set at 1186 Salmon.  So very simply that amount of Salmon has to go over the counter. Now in fairness we have a surplus of fish in the river Maine. Last year a surplus of 424 Salmon. My argument is we need to know how this counter is differentiating between big Sea Trout and Salmon! How in the name of god is there a 1000% increase in C&R numbers? Also it needs to be said that, how is this process of evaluating Salmon numbers accurate or even covered by Law? It's not effective, anybody can add in figures into their log book! I would even go further and say it's open for corruption because all draft net fishermen have to do is have a few anglers in their pocket to keep a river open! Also this has to be said, anglers themselves not concerned with conservation will fill their logbooks to keep rivers open! The whole system in my opinion could be adding to the demise of Salmon stocks rather than conserving. Change is enviable. 

 

Brown Flesk, 2019

TEGOS Report, River Maine, 2022