The Wild Salmon (Salmo Salar) hatch in the river in spring and remain there for about three years, when they make the transition to the sea, where they travel several hundred miles to the salmon feeding grounds. Up to four years later they return to their river of birth to reproduce. Their flesh is deeply coloured and lean, with an incomparable rich flavour and texture.
Fishing for salmon has taken place for over 900 hundred years within the estuary of the River Tweed at Gardo fishery.
In the late 18th century several laws were passed and the only legal method from then on would be by Net and Coble. The industry grew and due to the improved rail links direct to London, the fresh fish were able to be served in the best hotels and restaurants. In the 1980s the industry retracted through the demise of The Berwick Salmon Company and the organised buy out of net fisheries from the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust.
The closure of a couple more commercial fisheries, and with farmed salmon being heavily promoted, resulted in there being only one remaining netting station operating commercially on the River Tweed, Gardo. Gardo Fishery is located within the estuary at Berwick upon Tweed.
This is the only avenue for Tweed Salmon and Seatrout to the market as it is illegal to sell rod caught fish. The fishing season lasts from 1st April to mid September.
The season for netting has been greatly reduced to ensure sustainability of the salmon stocks by the recent Scottish Government legislation. The Wild Fisheries Reform Bill designated the River Tweed as a Grade 1 river which allows the wild salmon and seatrout to be taken under careful stewardship. The stewardship scheme is under constant review to ensure stock levels remain healthy.
All fish caught by the River Tweed Wild Salmon Company are tagged with a unique ID number ensuring all fish are fully traceable.
