The management of populations of migratory fish is not an easy task. Over the last few years salmon have been managed by catch quotos on most rivers. According to the returns upriver the fishing of a defined number of salmon is authorized. Specific management per river.

Salmon fishing is authorized in some rivers in Normandy, in Brittany and in the Adour basin. It remains closed in the Loir-Allier, in the Dordogne and the Garonne. It may open in the coming years in the Allier (consequence of salmon culture releases in the Haut Allier) and the Dordogne (1.500 returns in 2002).
The number of anglers for migratory salmonids has remained stable for 10 years (approximately 4.500). It was much higher before (over 9.000 in 1987). The management of salmon today has a biological basis and is not based on the anglers associated with this management.

In Brittany, since 1996, the management of catches has been carried out by a system of total allowable catches (TAC). On each river a TAC is estimated according to the size and the capacity of habitats for young fish. The aim is to enable reproduction and an optimum occupation according to the capacity of the river. A number of reproductive fish must be maintained in order to guarantee the renewal of the populations.

The system is based on the monitoring of the returns of salmon to the rivers. It has the advantage of being flexible : at the beginning of the season a TAC is determined based on the results of the preceding year but can be modified during the year. In this way in 2002 provisional TACs were lowered on 1st July because of the low number of returns. A winter extension was enforced in order to take out grilse (one winter in the sea).

These TACs allow populations of spring salmon (two winters in the sea) and those of grilse to be managed differently. Once the catch total has been reached the fishing is closed. In 2002 in Brittany this was not the case as, contrary to the previous year, the TACs for spring salmon were not reached. But young fish (one summer) were more numerous in rivers.

Selune river - Ducey's bridge

Since 1987 more salmon have been caught with lines in Normandy than in Brittany.
In the Sée and the Sélune catches were identical to those of 2001 despite the 7 week postponement of the opening date, a measure which had replaced the enforcement of a TAC. Anglers caught the same amount of fish at the opening which reveals the limits of this type of measure! As the TAC was reached in July and August the fishing was closed. On the Adour and the Gaves the number of reproductive fish reaching the spawning zones was insufficient and did not fulfill its potential. A TAC was applied and the opening date delayed one month in order to reduce the pressure on the spring salmon. The postponement of the opening date did not produce the effects hoped for. Fishing with nets was banned for 2 or 3 days per week. An improvement has been observed but not sufficient to obtain improved access to spawning zones for spring salmon