We know when salmon spawn the fish that hatch will return to the same river and stream they hatched, then the whole cycle will start over.
When salmon are removed from their natural spawning grownds and stripped, the eggs fertilised then reintroduced to the same spot they were taken then again will return to the same spot in the river. This is good.
I was having a discussion the other day and this is where I would like your views. I was told of a river (not to mention any names)where the salmon are being removed from their spawning beds and transported to a hatchery that is far down the river system then when the hatchlings are ready they are being reintroduced in a smaller river near the hatchery that converges with the main river surely when these salmon return they will head up the smaller river where reintroduced and not back to where the adult fish was taken?
This, I was told, has been happening for a number of years, this is bound to have an effect on the returning stocks to the upper reaches of the river. Catches are down. The views of the people removing the salmon are that the fish will return to the upper reaches. I cant see how this can happen. What are your views thanks.

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Just one more!!!

Do I get a guess that you are talking about the River Nith and it was an upper river fisher that was informing you of the stocking policy?

You are right to be concerned. Just one of many problems associated with hatchery schemes that attempt to boost wild stocks. The whole process is extremely complex and fraught with difficulty. There is so much we simply don't understand about wild spawning and the process of natural selection including which cocks mate with which hens and the role played by precocious cock parr during the spawning.

There is lots of evidence to suggest that fish return to spawn at the very spot of gravel where they emerged and not just the same system. Too many times we intervene, thinking that we can do better than the wild model. We are all too quick to claim success, with few schemes ever being properly monitored and evaluated, often with the lost wild production from fish taken and committed to a broodstock scheme not even included in any final assessment.

There is a role for hatcheries but IMO simply to try and boost numbers of fish to augment the rod catch isn't one them.