A quick reminder of the stocking symposium on 11 November 2026 at Birnam Arts. It promises to be very informative and should convince you that Conservation Stocking MUST be a part of an overall habitat improvement project. Sign up appears to be slow and we must have final numbers by 31 October. Full details are via this link:
https://thetay.org/…/uploads/2026/10/SYMPOSIUM-NOTICE.docx
or you can go straight to the booking link here:
This will be a symposium not to be missed and should give us all ammunition to challenge, robustly, the status quo.
Short descriptions of all the symposium presentations are here:
KEYNOTE ADDRESS – DR JOHN TAYLOR
John has some 40 years of experience of stocking various salmonid species but with a particular interest and knowledge of Atlantic Salmon in Wales. He will take us through the highs and lows in Wales from running four hatcheries and helping rivers recover to the Welsh Government Decision to cease Conservation Salmon Stocking in 2015. 100% of the 22 principle salmon rivers in Wales are now considered to be ‘at risk.’
THE RIVER CARRON PROJECT – BOB KINDNESS MBE
Bob has been involved in restoring the River Carron for 30 years and has been collecting data for scientific analysis to show that conservation stocking is wholly viable and must be considered as another tool to help stop the steep reduction in salmon numbers across all of Scotland. He has monitored closely the issues of domestication and fitness and will show that stocking done well will have little effect and that stocked fish migration from and to the river is as good as that of wild fish. Bob was awarded the MBE in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List – a richly deserved honour.
RIVER CREE HATCHERY – MURDO CROSBIE
The River Cree Habitat and Hatchery Trust was established in 2011 as a community project to address the decline of salmon and sea trout populations in the River Cree system in Dumfries and Galloway. The River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO was established in 2020 to continue the work of the original trust and some 200,000 fry are released annually. The Cree Habitat and Hatchery Trust won the NASF Orri Vigfussen Award in 2025.
The success of the hatchery’s fry rearing program continues to improve the salmon stock status and habitat health of the River Cree system extending from the tributary feeder burns high up in the surrounding Galloway foothills to the Cree Estuary including the Moneypool Burn at Creetown. The RCHHT’s work over the years in trying to arrest the decline of Atlantic Salmon stocks in the River Cree system is acknowledged nationwide and beyond. Murdo will explain the work he does to ensure the success of the Hatchery and why Conservation Stocking MUST be considered as an adjunct to other conservation projects.
SAVING NORWEGIAN RIVERS – VEGARD SOLLIEN, NORWEGIAN VETERINARY INSTITUTE
Gyrodactylus salaris was detected on Atlantic salmon in 53 Norwegian rivers and in 39 Norwegian fish farms. G. salaris has been considered one of the biggest threats to wild Norwegian Atlantic salmon stocks – in affected rivers, the mortality of Atlantic salmon juveniles is very high, estimated to a mean of 86%. The challenge the Norwegian authorities had was to eradicate the G Salaris, but be able to safeguard the genetic integrity of the Atantic Salmon in each river in order to replace those killed in the process of eradication. Vegard will describe what was done (and still being done) and the relationship to conservation stocking.
LIES DAMN LIES AND STATISTICS – DAVID BAMFORD
It is often the case that data from scientific evidence in many fields becomes “gospel” over time and the natural turnover of scientists ensures that the data and evidence is repeated and, of course, never challenged! There is a strong belief that this has happened with “evidence” from salmon stocking programmes. Dave Bamford has long experience with stocking programmes in England and has discussed the various issues with seasoned stocking practitioners across UK, Europe, USA and Canada. He believes that current thoughts on stocking may well have been tarnished by evidence from the wrong data or the wrong supposition from data and will brief on a case in point. This new evidence could have a dramatic effect on Conservation Stocking views.
SALMON GENETICS – MAUREEN HESS
Maureen is a Masters Graduate from School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington and has been involved in major genetic studies of both wild and stocked Chinook salmon in Columbia. One such study in 2012 investigated differences in reproductive success (RS) of wild and hatchery-reared Chinook salmon spawning in the natural environment to address questions regarding the demographic and genetic impacts of supplementation to a natural population. Results showed that there was a significant demographic boost to the population from supplementation. Maureen will take us through the project and results and relate that to the benefits that will be gained in Conservation Stocking of Atlantic Salmon.