Evidence of long-distance coastal sea migration of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, smolts from northwest England (River Derwent)

• DOI: 10.1186/s40317-022-00274-2
• Publication Date: 2022-01-26T23:02:36Z
• Authors: Amy Green; Hannele M. Honkanen; Philip Ramsden; Brian Shields; Diego del Villar-...; Melanie Fletcher; Silas Walton; Richard Kennedy; Robert Rosell; Niall O’Maoiléidigh; James Barry; William Roche; Fred Whoriskey; Peter Klimley; Colin E. Adams
• Keywords: Irish sea

Abstract Background Combining data from multiple acoustic telemetry studies has revealed that west coast England Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) smolts used a northward migration pathway through the Irish Sea to reach their feeding grounds. Hundred were captured and tagged in May 2020 River Derwent, northwest as part of an Environment Agency/Natural funded project. Results Three detected on marine receivers distributed across two separate arrays different projects Sea. One fish had migrated approximately 262 km 10 days river mouth at Workington Harbour, Cumbria northernmost receiver array operated by SeaMonitor project; this is longest tracked smolt migrating United Kingdom. This displayed behaviours which resulted fast migration. The remaining third project: Collaborative Oceanography Monitoring for Protected Areas Species (COMPASS). Conclusion These detections further provide evidence grounds least proportion rivers draining into northerly, though without southern it impossible conclude only route. pattern these would not have been possible collaborative efforts three distinct separately share data. Further work required fully understand trajectories species British Isles.