Study shows river salmon increase

Salmon numbers on the River Tees are significantly up

Salmon numbers on the River Tees are improving, according to a study by the Environment Agency.

Anglers had expressed fears that a fish pass built into the Tees Barrage was not effective in protecting fish from foraging seals and pollution.

But an agency study has revealed catches are significantly up on figures in the 1980s and 1990s.

A spokesman said "significant progress" had been made in recovering the river as a recognised fishing area.

'Great strides'

All salmon and sea trout anglers are required by law to declare their annual catch and throughout the 1980's the average catch return for the river was only 27.

This rose to an average of 45 during the 1990's on the back of changes to waste-water treatment and this decade the average annual salmon catch is 121.

Environment Agency manager Mark Scott said: "Over the last 15 years the River Tees has made great strides in recovering as a fishery, after many years of neglect.

"Historic records indicate the river has recovered to nearly 25% of its pre-industrial health over the past 15 years, which is in line with predicted rates of recovery, based on other salmon rivers in the region."