The status of fish populations in the Clyde Estuary

Abstract

SynopsisChanges in the status of fish populations in the Clyde Estuary between Woodhall and Glasgow since 1978 are described and data presented on species composition and distribution, temporal and spatial fluctuations in abundance and biomass and length frequency data for certain species are analysed.The seaward part of the estuary is colonised by marine and euryhaline marine species dominated by flounder, while the ‘city reaches’ have a fresh water component dominated by three-spined stickleback and eel in addition to several euryhaline species, e.g. sand-goby and saithe.The extent of biological recovery of the estuary from severe organic pollution can be gauged from the presence now of thirty-four species, including nineteen in the city reaches which were virtually fishless in the mid nineteenth century. The upper estuary is now able to support resident and migratory fish for much of the year, but species composition and abundance are markedly affected by seasonally variable fresh water flows to the estuary affecting primarily dissolved oxygen and salinity, leading to mortalities among resident species and providing a barrier to migrants.