'Give salmon a helping hand'

The guidelines cover all roads

Road engineers in Scotland are being urged to help salmon to migrate when designing new projects.

The Scottish Executive is concerned about the decline in salmon numbers and have produced guidelines to ensure fish have full access to watercourses.

The "sensitive" construction of culverts, bridges, weirs and fords along the sides of roads should help salmon to migrate from lochs and rivers to the sea.

Bridges can bar migrating salmon

The guidelines, issued for consultation, have been produced by the Scottish Executive in consultation with engineers, designers, environmental consultants, district salmon fishery boards and other groups.

Scottish Fisheries Minister, John Home Roberston, said: "Migratory fish such as salmon and sea-trout are an important recreational and commercial resource in Scotland but populations are under pressure.

"Much of the cause of decline has been attributed to changes in the ocean. While there is little we can do there we can ensure that the freshwater environment is as productive as possible."

Spawning fish

Transport Minister, Sarah Boyack, added: "Poorly designed river crossing structures such as culverts can act as a barrier to the movement of migratory fish.

"Ensuring their movement is not impeded will assist in the sustainable management of fish stocks by maximising the area of habitat available to spawning fish.

Fish farmers could grow larger fish

"We hope that all those involved in designing roads and river-crossing structures will adopt the guidance offered."

The net economic value of angling for salmon in Scotland was estimated to be between £270m and £430m in 1995. The guidelines are applicable to all roads and railways.

Culverts and weirs can act as barriers to fish migration and reduce the area available for spawning.

The most productive spawning habitats are often located in smaller tributaries which are particularly susceptible to the effects of insensitive river-crossing designs.