Importance of Angling to River Spey
In the 2004 published research by Riddington et al entitled 'Economic Impact of Water-Related Recreation Activity on the River Spey' it was estimated that :
- there were a total of 54,746 angler days spent on the entire river (source to mouth) worth over £11.8m to the economy and supporting some 367 jobs
- angling on the Spey produces 11% of the total income from angling in Scotland
- there are some 40,544 salmon specific angling days on the Spey (74% of the total number of angling days). Of this total 37,571 (93%) takes place between Grantown and Spey Bay (including 2,894 on the River Avon). The highest proportion of angling days takes place between Grantown and Craigellachie (19,033 days or 47%) with 39% or 15,644 angling days between Craigellachie and Spey Bay
- The composition of the angling market (salmon and Sea Trout and coarse fishing totalling 54,746 angling days is as follows: Local residents 10,467 days (19%), Highlands of Scotland 4,724 days (8.5%), Rest of Scotland 8,515 days (15.5%) visitors from the UK and overseas 31,037 days (57%)
- Of the £11.8m of expenditure and worth to the local economy 74% (or £8.67m) is generated by tourists from outwith Scotland. Tourists from the Highlands contributed £0.38m and from the Rest of Scotland £1.9m (or 19%). Local anglers contributed just under £1m.
- These figures indicated that every salmon caught is worth £5,500 to the local economy
- The capital value of the River Spey and its angling industry is estimated to be worth over £59m per annum.
On the basis of these figures it is estimated that angling along the River Spey in Moray could be worth between £4.6m and £5m per annum to the local economy and supports over 100 jobs.