River Deveron, Scotland
In December 2023 wild Atlantic salmon were classified as an endangered species in Great Britain by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), including in Scotland where populations of this iconic, keystone species continue to decline. The species faces a range of threats in freshwater, the coastal zone, and at sea, all of which are compounded by the twin crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss.
On the River Deveron in Aberdeenshire, a catchment-scale, long-term restoration project is underway to conserve, protect and restore the river’s wild salmon population and wider biodiversity. Project Deveron is a partnership between the Deveron, Bogie & Isla Rivers Charitable Trust and the Atlantic Salmon Trust, supported by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate. Over the coming years it looks to take action in and around the river to give wild Atlantic salmon the conditions they need for a thriving future – free access to cold, clean water.
To adequately assess the impact and success of this landscape-scale restoration work on the salmon population over time, it is vital that the salmon population is accurately monitored and that fish are counted leaving the river as juveniles, and returning to the river as adults.
Amongst a range of monitoring methods being employed by the projects is a state-of-the-art sonar imaging fish counter – one of only two currently operating in Scotland. This was installed in 2023 on a temporary structure to count adult salmon returning from the sea, leading to the first technical success and major milestone in the project – the first accurate, full-river adult salmon count ever achieved on the river.
Following this successful trial, a new long-term, flood-resistant structure was required to house and protect the sonar device going forward.
The partnership is delighted to announce that Ocean Winds, via the Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm, have made this possible. A newly engineered, robust structure to protect the fish counter from flood events is now in place on the Deveron, ensuring that the project’s cutting-edge monitoring can continue to support restoration work on the ground.
Richard Miller of the Deveron, Bogie & Isla Rivers Charitable Trust, said, “We and project partners are delighted to have this support from Ocean Winds, via their Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm, enabling us to safeguard this essential equipment. With their help, we can now ensure that we continue to gather the vital information required to help wild Atlantic salmon in the Deveron and beyond”.
Ruaridh Danaher, Onshore Consents Manager for the Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm said” Helping to protect Scotland’s iconic wild Atlantic salmon is a cause we are proud to contribute to, and we are delighted that our support has enabled the long-term protection of this essential monitoring technology on the River Deveron. Through partnerships like this, we can help safeguard vital ecosystems while advancing the transition to clean energy.”
