Predation of juvenile Salmon and Trout by Goosanders and Cormorants is one of the greatest concerns expressed by anglers on the river and potentially one of the greatest pressures on fish populations, particularly for Atlantic salmon, which are now classified as endangered.
The Tweed Foundation has a package of research and monitoring that will improve our understanding of their potential impacts on local fish populations and inform our licence application to reduce damage to the fishery. Regular monitoring is in the form of periodic bird counts, either by walking sections of river to count Goosanders and Cormorants or counting Cormorants at known roosts at dusk. From 2018 to 2022, we have carried out tracking of salmon smolts to investigate their survival down the river and from 2023 onwards, we have developed the expertise to carry out dietary analysis of Goosanders and Cormorants. To read more please follow the link
