On the tail of Atlantic salmon around Europe
Before the smolt run begins, the SMOLTRACK partners must set up the equipment. After deploying all the hydrophones, our partners will capture, tag, release and follow the Atlantic salmon smolts during their migration to the sea!
The SMOLTRACK partners came together in Galicia, Spain, to discuss the way forward and set this year’s plans in motion!
Study type: Acoustic
Listening stations deployed: 18
Tagged smolts: 86
Succeeded: 31
Survival rates (%)
Overall survival = Number of survivors / Total number of released fish * 100
Section survival = Fish that reached the end of the section / Fish that entered the section * 100
After the fieldwork season has passed and the results were analysed, the SMOLTRACK partners came together in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to discuss the results.
SMOLTRACK is a European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) funded project quantifying Atlantic salmon mortality during the early part of the outward migration as juveniles from river to high seas.
Over recent decades, the abundance of wild Atlantic salmon stocks has been in decline throughout their range, despite significant management measures put in place both domestically and at an international level. There is evidence that the initial mortality immediately after migratory juveniles (smolts) enter salt water is very high and that this ‘point mortality’ may explain most of the variation seen in return rates of adult salmon.
This project will determine the mortality of salmon smolts during their migration through the lower parts of rivers, estuaries/fjords and near-shore areas through case studies using acoustic telemetry in rivers in five areas: Denmark, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Spain.
The recent (November 7-8) meeting convened at AFBI HQ with representatives from all five areas present, reviewed the results of the first year of the project (2017), and agreed on small changes to standard operating procedures based on the lessons learned in 2017.
In addition a proposal for funding a one-year extension of the project by the EMFF was drafted at the meeting, which has subsequently been granted.
Source: https://www.afbini.gov.uk/smoltrack-meeting-held-afbi
Study type: Acoustic
Listening stations deployed: 8
Tagged smolts: 50
Succeeded: 27
Survival rates (%)
Overall survival = Number of survivors / Total number of released fish * 100
Section survival = Fish that reached the end of the section / Fish that entered the section * 100
Study area
Red dots represent listening stations
Red flags represent release sites
Study type: Acoustic
Listening stations deployed: 13
Tagged smolts: 99
Succeeded: 39
Survival rates (%)
Overall survival = Number of survivors / Total number of released fish * 100
Section survival = Fish that reached the end of the section / Fish that entered the section * 100
Study area
Red dots represent listening stations
Red flags represent release sites
Study type: Acoustic
Listening stations deployed: 12
Tagged smolts: 40
Succeeded: 12
Survival rates (%)
Overall survival = Number of survivors / Total number of released fish * 100
Section survival = Fish that reached the end of the section / Fish that entered the section * 100
Study area
Red dots represent listening stations
Red flags represent release sites
Study type: Acoustic
Listening stations deployed: 25
Tagged smolts: 100
Succeeded: 61
Survival rates (%)
Overall survival = Number of survivors / Total number of released fish * 100
Section survival = Fish that reached the end of the section / Fish that entered the section * 100
Study area
Red dots represent listening stations
Red flags represent release sites
Rotary screw traps allow us to harmlessly capture Atlantic salmon smolts as they migrate, while ensuring that predators do not enter the trap and eat the fish before we can release them!
The SMOLTRACK partners came together in Galway, Ireland, to plan the fieldwork and consolidate the Standard Operating Procedure.
