1,943 fish have been recorded through the Gala fish counter since its installation last autumn. The fish counter began working on 28th September 2006 but, as there were some initial problems with the counter's scanner, the 2006 total cannot be used for monitoring purposes. The initial classifications, using the video footage which the counter provides of each fish passing upstream through the counter showed that the total of 1,943 fish could be broken down as follows:-
Species Number Percentage%
Generic 1,606 82.66
Salmon 85 4.37
Trout 250 12.87
Rainbow Trout 2 0.10
Adjustments have been made to reduce the amount of turbulance in the fish pass pot which holds the counter and also to the camera position which previously limited correct species identification. The accuracy of species identification for 2007 onwards should therefore increase following these alterations.
See photographs of the fish counter and examples of the photos it records of the fish passing upstream.
Salmon passing through the Gala fish counter
Trout passing through the Gala fish counter
The new fish counter being installed in one of the pots of the Skinworks Cauld fish pass at Galashiels on the Gala Water.
Installing a fish counter in the pass also provided the opportunity to make alterations to improve access to the entrance and exit of the fish pass.