Preserving wild salmon: Trago teams up with Colliford Salmon Hatchery

The salmon season is underway at Trago Liskeard, marked by a visit from Jon Hake of the Liskeard and District Angling Club. Together with the Colliford Salmon Hatchery, we’re supporting the vital process of preserving wild salmon in the River Fowey. 

At Liskeard’s Trago store, nestled along the banks of the River Fowey, we are proud to play a small but vital role in supporting the local ecosystem and preserving one of nature's most incredible journeys - the life cycle of wild salmon.

Recently, we welcomed Jon Hake from the Liskeard and District Angling Club to our site as part of an inspiring project in collaboration with South West Water and the Colliford Salmon Hatchery. The hatchery is an essential initiative that mitigates the loss of spawning grounds and disrupted water flows in the St Neot River (or River Loveny), a tributary of the River Fowey.

Photo: Trago

How It Works:
Through October and November, experienced fishermen like Jon collect salmon from the River Fowey, including sections that pass through Trago's grounds (please note: fishing here is not open to the public). Once 10 salmon are gathered - both male and female - they are carefully transported to the Colliford Salmon Hatchery, located beneath the dam at Colliford Reservoir.

Here, the salmon are paired for breeding. Over the following months, the eggs develop into young fish, which are released back into the river by late summer the following year, ready to continue their life cycle. This remarkable programme returns between 40,000 and 60,000 salmon to the River Fowey annually, ensuring the survival of this magnificent species and supporting the broader health of our waterways.

Photo: Colliford Hatchery

A Record-Breaking Effort:
In 2023, an impressive 38,500 eggs were released back into the St Neot River as juveniles, thanks to the efforts of the Liskeard and District Angling Club, with whom Jon fishes. This remarkable achievement highlights the dedication and collaboration of the local community to sustain and protect the wild salmon population.

Photo: Jon Hake

Why It Matters:
Wild salmon play a critical role in the river's ecosystem, and projects like this help ensure future generations can continue to witness their incredible life cycle. At Trago, we’re delighted to support this effort by allowing the hatchery team to fish salmon on-site, helping to safeguard the River Fowey's natural beauty and biodiversity for years to come.

A huge thank you to the team at the Colliford Salmon Hatchery and to Jon Hake for their dedication to this vital work. It’s an honour to contribute to such an important mission.

Get Involved:
Want to learn more about the Colliford Salmon Hatchery or the Liskeard and District Angling Club? Visit their website to explore how you can support this incredible conservation effort.

Colliford Hatchery

Liskeard & District Angling Club

Salmon, Sea Trout & Brown Trout fishing throughout south-east Cornwall.