Letter to the Telegraph - Salmon stocks at risk as sand eels are overfished

Letter to the Editor: The Telegraph

In response to ‘Salmon stocks at risk as sand eels are overfished’ by Clare Carter on 28th July 2014

Dear Editor,

A recent article by Clare Carter regarding concerns on salmon stocks returning to British waters draws a series of conclusions that I would like to address.  In summary, the article states that the most likely cause of the decrease in size and weight of the returning salmon is the overfishing of sandeels and krill, which result in the salmon having insufficient food whilst at sea. Firstly, it is important for your readers to know that the only significant fishing for krill is conducted in the Southern Hemisphere (Antarctica) far away from the feeding grounds for the Atlantic Salmon. Secondly, the fishing for sandeels (which are only found in the North Sea) is carefully monitored by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

Ms Carter also gave the impression that sandeels were being caught for the production of fertilizer. This is totally erroneous as what limited landings there are, go for the production of marine ingredients for human and animal nutrition and nothing goes for fertiliser production.

As to what is causing the salmon to be so thin, I would draw your readers’ attention to the work of Professor Todd at St Andrew’s University. He concludes that the primary cause of the low weight of returning salmon to Scotland is due to the warming of the seas in the North Atlantic (http://theconversation.com/shrinking-wild-salmon-starve-at-sea-as-north-atlantic-warms-22264).