The latest report on trout and salmon populations in Manx rivers shows that the island continues to offer plentiful opportunities for local and visiting anglers.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture’s biennial report also highlights the initiatives under way to boost salmon numbers, which suffered from the severe floods that occurred in 2015. Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ’Most of our rivers and streams support healthy brown trout populations, while larger, migratory, sea trout are also widespread.

’Although trends in some juvenile salmon populations were positive, the severe floods of December 2015 occurred as adults were laying eggs and this had an impact on the number of salmon hatching in 2016.

’This emphasises the importance of conserving stocks so they remain resilient in the face of extreme weather, which may become more common due to climate challenges.’

High numbers of young salmon is one indication that a river is in good health.

’The DEFA works in a number of ways to protect and improve these vulnerable fish populations including initiatives such as the construction of a fish pass that has led to salmon breeding naturally in the upper waters of the Santon Burn,’ said Mr Boot Some good catches of salmon and sea trout were reported by anglers in 2016, the DEFA’s report states.

The 2017 river angling season started on April 1 and continues until September 30 for brown trout and October 31 for salmon and sea trout.

The main salmon run is expected to start in September.

The DEFA says anglers should check regulations governing river fishing and are encouraged to release all the fish they catch to help conserve stocks.