Management Report
FEBRUARY 2008
An important milestone in Scottish freshwater fisheries was reached in 2007 with the publication of the draft Strategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries. This is a product of the Freshwater Fisheries Forum Steering Group which, under the expert chairmanship of Gordon Brown, from the Scottish Executive (now known as the Marine Directorate, Scottish Government) has put together nearly 30 ‘priorities for action’ (PFAs) which will form the framework within which we will all have to work over coming years. This is a genuine distillation and consensus of the thinking of all the major fisheries management and angling bodies in Scotland. The document now will allow the sector to evolve and develop very much in a manner which it feels comfortable with and which it has control over. The Scottish Government has been a major contributor to this process and will retain both a guiding hand and, where appropriate, the leverage of funding, but from now on the future of fisheries management lies very much with the sector itself and it is up to us to make it work. The document went out for public consultation in September and a well attended public forum was held in Glasgow on 28 November. The consultation closed on 5 January. The main concerns expressed at the Forum were:
A strong message to avoid bu• reaucracy, cost and centralisation of control and to focus on evolving current structures to deal with the challenges of the future.
A concern about the absence of • any identified action on mixed stock salmon fisheries.
Concerns about too much focus • on salmon.
Concern about promoting new • fisheries for non-native species.
The Forum Steering Group will now attempt to address these concerns and produce a final document in the early Spring.
ASFB & RAFTS - Working Together - Sarah Bayley, the RAFTS Director, has now moved to Switzerland but will continue to work for RAFTS, particularly on European funding issues, whilst the new Director, Callum Sinclair, settles into the post. Callum will be known to many as the former head of the River Basin Management Planning Team at SEPA and brings with him not only a vast amount of knowledge of the Water Framework Directive and SEPA, but also a deep understanding of freshwater fisheries management issues from his former tenure as head of the Galloway Fisheries Trust. The intention is now for RAFTS and ASFB to work in as integrated a way as possible whilst still maintaining appropriate clear blue water between the two bodies to reflect their statutory and charitable status. Brian Davidson, now acting as Director of ASFB, and Callum Sinclair, as Director of RAFTS will be working with Andrew Wallace, who will take an overall co-ordinating role, out of the new office in Edinburgh. Our new contact details are on the back page. Coreen Scott has now joined us to act as administrator for both organisations. It goes without saying that we all owe a huge debt of thanks to Sarah Bayley, for her dedication and enthusiasm that has so swiftly put RAFTS on the map. We wish her well in her new life in Switzerland.
2007 was a year of change and we only managed to get one report out during the year. We are hopeful that this year we can return to the normal schedule of 2-3 reports a year in the new format. Apologies for the interruption in service!
In this issue...
Strategic Framework
2007 Season
Aquaculture News
Beavers
Re-watering the Garry
Gyrodactylus Salaris
Fishery Management
Planning
Non Natives
IFMAGM
Bailiff Training
News in Brief
2 : Scottish Freshwater Fisheries Management Report : FEBRUARY 2008
2007 Season - The Scottish salmon rod catch for 2006 was the fifth highest catch on record (since 1952). 2006 was considered to be a reasonably good year with continuing improvements in the spring run. Grilse runs were late again and there were widespread reports of poorly conditioned and small grilse. This year, 2007, the spring catch was poor, by recent standards, and except on a few rivers the recent positive trend appears not to have continued. This was partly not helped by an exceptionally dry spring. The grilse runs were again late and it now appears that we should be expecting, rather than be continue to be surprised, by this phenomenon. Water conditions throughout the summer favoured salmon fishing and catches were strong and in some places exceptionally good. It was also encouraging to note that the condition of fish was generally better and the skinny grilse phenomenon of the previous year was less obvious. Also it was extremely encouraging to see marked improvements in West Coast salmon runs with several West Coast spate rivers having some of the best catches for several decades. It must be a source of speculation that this may, in part, have been due to the closure of the Irish Drift Net fishery in 2007. This fishery was not officially thought to have had a significant impact on Scottish stocks but the evidence suggests that the impact may have been greater than previously believed. 2007 summer salmon and back end runs appear to have been good with some notable exceptions and it appears that some rivers this year have had relatively weak runs fish – the Tay and Esks being amongst them - whereas the Tweed and Dee have had strong runs since the summer. Sea-trout catches remain a source of concern although there have been signs of improvement in some systems, particularly the Solway. The West Coast sea-trout situation remains precarious. All in all we expect 2007 to be an average to good year though good fishing conditions may have exaggerated perceptions about the status of stocks.
Strathy Netting Station – In the summer of 2007, the Scottish Government finally decided to close the controversial Strathy netting station on the North Coast that was part of the Scottish Government estate. This was one of the bigger remaining mixed stock fisheries in Scotland. However negotiations are underway with Simon Patterson, the long standing tenant of the Scottish Executive at Strathy following the announcement of the termination of the lease at the end of last season. Working with Fisheries Research Services and Professor Chris Todd at the University of St Andrews, it is hoped that Simon’s services can be retained to monitor the health and condition of fish as they make landfall on their return from the Atlantic. This will yield particularly valuable information about the thin grilse phenomenon of recent years. A small working group is currently finalising the details of the research programme, the lease arrangements and the funding with a view to starting the monitoring programme in June 2008. A newsletter on progress at Strathy will be produced as we start to get real-time information on salmon condition this summer. Further information from the ASFB/RAFTS website.
Findhorn Board - Ewen Brodie, after 6 energetic years as chairman of the Findhorn Board, has recently retired as chairman. Ewen oversaw considerable progress with the Board including the formation of the Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Fisheries Trust. He will remain an active member of the Board and has been replaced by Alistair Gordon-Cumming.
Dee Season Extension – The Dee DSFB has successfully applied for the angling season to be extended by two weeks to the middle of October to reflect the observation of gradually later runs of fish. This will commence in 2008.ƒOƒPƒQƒRƒSƒTƒPƒUƒVƒWƒSƒXƒVƒYƒPƒQƒZƒ[ƒVƒ\ƒQƒPƒQƒRƒ]ƒQƒRƒZƒ]ƒVƒ^ƒWƒ_ƒQƒPƒRƒTƒ_ƒXƒVƒVƒ`ƒVƒWƒ_ƒUƒ_ƒPƒ]ƒ_ƒXƒaƒVƒ\ƒZƒSƒQƒUƒPƒTƒXƒbƒVƒcƒdƒeƒfƒgƒfƒhƒhƒiƒOƒPƒOƒOƒOƒOƒQƒOƒOƒOƒOƒRƒOƒOƒOƒOƒSƒOƒOƒOƒOƒTƒOƒOƒOƒOƒOƒTƒPƒOƒOƒOƒOƒTƒUƒVƒPƒTƒUƒVƒVƒTƒUƒVƒSƒTƒUƒRƒTƒTƒUƒRƒQƒTƒUƒRƒWƒTƒUƒWƒOƒTƒUƒWƒXƒTƒUƒWƒRƒTƒUƒWƒUƒTƒUƒSƒPƒTƒUƒSƒVƒTƒUƒSƒSƒTƒUƒUƒTƒTƒUƒUƒQƒTƒUƒUƒWƒPƒOƒOƒOƒPƒOƒOƒXƒPƒOƒOƒRƒYƒZƒ[ƒ\ƒ]ƒ^ƒ_ƒ^ƒ`ƒ_ƒ`ƒaƒbƒc
Newsfrom the AssociationofSalmonFishery Boards(ASFB)
ASFB AGM – In 2007 The ASFB altered the mechanism for raising funds and with that it harmonised the administrative and financial years to the calendar year. This means that from now on the AGM will be held in November and Association subscriptions will be invoiced at the beginning of each calendar year.Scottish Freshwater Fisheries Management Report : FEBRUARY 2008 : 3
Beavers - ASFB and RAFTS harbour a number of fundamental concerns about the proposed trial re-introduction of beavers in Knapdale, Argyll. This trial is being proposed by both Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. It is anticipated that a licence application will have been submitted by the end of 07 and we understand that Ministers, and their statutory advisers, SNH, are likely to look favourably on this. A number of other stakeholders are very concerned about the lack of information on the proposals, and the very short period which has been allowed for consultation. Others who hold similar concerns are British Waterways Board, Confederation for Forestry and the Scottish Rural Property Business Association.
The principal concerns of ASFB/RAFTS relate to the potential effects on salmonid migration and the effect on existing salmonid habitat due to modification by beavers. It has been acknowledged that the proposed trial in Knapdale will answer very few, if any, questions relating to these potential impacts, so it seems that we are unlikely to learn much from this particular project. We have stressed that it is very important that an attempt is made to model the national impact of such a reintroduction, using existing data from other countries so that we can assess what the likely effect of reintroductions would be on a wider range of habitats. The Chief Executive of RZSS convened a meeting in mid December to bring together the various stakeholders with the project team and representatives from SNH and the Scottish Government to discuss these concerns in an open way. The proposers acknowledged the various shortcomings in their approach and wished to engage in a more meaningful way in an attempt to address some of the concerns. This was welcomed but there remains underlying concerns about the validity of the project.
ASFB has made formal representation about these concerns to the project and have made Ministers and SNH aware of these. Further dialogue will continue.
Aquaculture News - 2007 was another poor year for fish farming containment with in excess of 200,000 fish having escaped from Scottish salmon and trout farms. Recent escapes from Marine Harvest sites in Loch Shiel (30,000) and Loch Ewe (24,000) have prompted a widely circulated letter to Allan Sutherland (MH CEO) with the following questions:
What plans does MH have to land base •smolt production as per the company’s policy in Chile?
What relocation opportunities might be •available to ensure smolt production can be located in water bodies which present a much less significant threat to wild fish populations?
What measures are being taken to ensure •that escapes such as those in Loch Shiel, Loch Garry and Loch Ewe, and elsewhere, are not repeated and how is it intended that the Industry Code of Good Practice might reflect current failures and incentivise future successes?
Why does MH have such a higher standard •of containment in its sites in British Columbia and what can be learned from that?
What plans does MH, and the rest of the •freshwater and marine cage aquaculture industry, have to develop credible identification procedures for identifying escaped farmed fish?
Does MH have plans to increase production •in Loch Ewe?
What opportunities should we be exploring •to relocate production from Loch Ewe to enable the Ewe/Maree system to be used as a control to test stock restoration in a major West Coast system?
A further challenge was made to Migdale Smolts who had applied to Highland Council and SEPA to increase their production of farmed smolts in Loch Shin by a factor of 5. This prompted a robust reaction from the Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Board and Trust and the ASFB and RAFTS. SEPA has turned down the application on grounds of the impact on the nutrient balance in the loch, however an appeal has now been lodged.
A Freedom of Information request has recently revealed that since 2002
Rewatering the River Garry – The Tay DSFB has been conducting a public campaign to restore the fortunes of the River Garry (the tributary of the Tay that runs along the A9). For many years much of this river has been almost totally abstracted by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) for hydro-power generation. Responding to pressure to restore the Garry under Water Framework Directive (WFD) obligations, a deal with the Scottish Executive and SEPA, proposed by SSE, was being considered to take water from the headwaters of the Spey. This predictably did not find favour with the Spey Board and the Tay Board considers that the flow proposed is too little to restore a full self sustaining salmon population. An argument has been developed to challenge SSE’s assertion that there should be no loss of renewable power generation in the achievement of WFD obligations. Dr David Summers of the Tay Board has come up with arguments that rewatering the Tay would result in only marginal losses of energy production that are inconsequential against the background of the many renewable energy projects underway at present and, in the view of the Board, would result in balancing ecological benefits. Updates on the progress of this initiative can be obtained from the Tay DSFB website: http://www.tdsfb.org/RiverGarryReport.htm 4 : Scottish Freshwater Fisheries Management Report : FEBRUARY 2008
there have been 89 escape incidents involving the loss of about 2 million farmed fish. The Scottish data includes names of every company involved in these incidents since 2002. Marine Harvest was responsible for 24 out of the 89 incidents and Stolt Seafarms - who merged with Marine Harvest during 2005 - was responsible for the most escapes in number. Recent repeated escapes in Loch Earn, Loch Tay, Loch Awe and Loch Etive from trout farms reveal an even more serious problem in the trout farming sector and the unacceptability of this situation is under discussion with the British Trout Association.
On the positive side progress with some AMAs is yielding much better results with lice control although there are concerns about a possible emerging resistance to SLICE (the effective in feed lice treatment). The TWG has also recently launched a new website which will, over time, allow access to data on progress within the Area Management Agreement. Website: www.tripartiteworkinggroup.com
Conservation of Atlantic Salmon In Scotland (CASS) – The £3.25m EU LIFE funded salmon conservation project concludes in June 2008 with the CASS end of project conference (11/12 June – Battleby). Enclosed is the CASS newsletter which gives an update of the project.
Gyrodactylus salaris - The ASFB has now issued directions and recommendations to all fishery boards concerning actions designed to protect fisheries and safeguard stocks from Gs. As from 2007, all Boards/Trusts were asked to undertake a range of actions on individual rivers. These include:awareness raising actions, such as convening local seminars to inform anglers and others of the threat posed by Gs; distribution of ‘Home & Dry’ posters and leaflets; and the placement of riverbank signage at appropriate sites on all river systems; the use of declaration forms which all anglers should sign before fishing to certify that their tackle has been properly treated if it has been used abroad; the provision of treatment facilities for tackle and equipment; developing protocols for Board/Trust field staff who may move between many rivers in short spaces of time; producing an inventory of each river catchment in Scotland so that all the physical issues which may need to be considered in an outbreak of Gs are immediately to hand.
RAFTS Annual Conference
The RAFTS annual conference will be held at the Biman Institute, Dunkeld on Friday 7 March 2008. This will follow the RAFTS AGM and General Committee meeting on 6 March. The theme of the conference will be "Fisheries Management Planning in Scotland" with speakers both from within the Trust network and from the public sector organisations RAFTS does business with. There are only a limited number of remaining places so pleaswe contact Callum Sinclair at callum@rafts.org.uk as soon as possible.
Fisheries Management
Planning – Richard Lochead, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, announced at the Freshwater Fisheries Forum that £400K a year for the next 3 years was to be made available to Fisheries Trusts and Boards to prepare and implement fisheries management plans. RAFTS is currently in negotiations with the Scottish Government and Fisheries Research Services (FRS) about how to make best use of this extremely welcome funding which will assist in the delivery of aspects of the Strategic Framework.
New Trusts - The Esks Rivers & Fisheries Trust received charitable status from the Office of the Scottish Charitable Regulator (OSCR) in December 2006. A steering group from the Trust is currently drawing up a plan of proposed projects which the Trust will initiate on the South and North Esks. The Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Trust are nearing the end of completing their Trust governing documents and will shortly be applying to OSCR for charitable status. The Skye DSFB, with other stakeholder interests on the Island, have started work on developing a Fisheries Trust for Skye using the RAFTS template governing documents for new Trusts.
Non-native invasives project - The non-native invasive project which includes all RAFTS members successfully applied for £100K to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. This project has so far failed to attract sufficient public sector funding for the full project to go ahead. Negotiations are underway with SNH. The national bio-security planning aspect of the project is likely to go ahead which is designed to put in place protocols for prevention, monitoring and management of alien species.
Training - As well as delivering educational programmes to primary school children, the Spey Research Trust and the Galloway Fisheries Trust are involved in delivering short courses for Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ) in Fisheries Management and the Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre (SFCC). In 2007 they trained 16 candidates. In total the Trusts and Colleges have delivered five electrofishing courses to 58 candidates.
For more information on the
Electrofishing Courses contact:
Jill Webb, Inverness College:
jill.webb@inverness.uhi.ac.uk
Fiona MacLean, Barony College:
FMacLean@barony.ac.uk
For general information on the SFCC training courses contact: Hilary Anderson, SFCC: h.anderson@marlab.ac.uk
New Biologist for the Lochaber Fisheries Trust - In February 2007 Dr Matt Gollock joined the Lochaber Fisheries Trust as their sen
Newsfrom Riversand FisheriesTrustsofScotland (RAFTS)Scottish Freshwater Fisheries Management Report : FEBRUARY 2008 : 5
ior biologist. As well as continuing and developing the core activities of the Lochaber Fisheries Trust, Matt is hoping to initiate a tagging programme for salmon and sea trout and he is keen to study the local eel populations in greater detail.
Education Projects - In 2007 member Trusts have delivered educational programmes to over 100 primary schools throughout the RAFTS network. It is recognised that a crucial aspect of promoting sustainable management of the freshwater ecosystem is ensuring that future generations understand their value and the management issues that affect them. Over half the Trusts carry out some form of educational activity largely based upon the ‘Salmon in the Classroom’ or ‘River in the Classroom’ model. The Clyde River Foundation delivers ‘Clyde in the Classroom’ and ‘Trout in the Classroom’ programmes to primary schools across the Scottish central belt. For more information on these projects see www.snh.org.uk/salmonintheclassroom. For more information on the Trust educational programmes visit: www.rafts.org.uk/activities
The IFM has been fully involved with the development of the Strategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries during 2007 but as a voluntary organisation the whole process has taken up a great deal of time. The IFM is largely happy with the consultation document although there are a number of issues that it has raised in its response, which are fundamental to producing sustainable fisheries management. The main areas with which IFM is supportive is with the production of integrated long term management plans for each catchment linked to developing appropriate tools for delivering and monitoring the plans. One of the issues that raised a lot of discussion within the Forum has been the role and practice of stocking (not just of non native species but of trout and salmon). IFM is aware of the new genetic techniques that are now available that are showing the potential dangers of stocking without fully identifying the status of your native fish. These are real dangers and need to be taken seriously if significant damage to wild stocks is not to continue. It is worth mentioning the latest regulatory advice and best practice documents that have been published recently by the EA (Environment Agency) in England and Wales and by the WWT (Wild Trout Trust), on the subject of trout stocking.
Lantra
IFM (Scotland) continues to work with Lantra and at present chairs the Fisheries Management Industry Group. The main aim of this committee is to try to identify the training requirements of all those involved in the sector in Scotland. This training ranges from chainsaw and boat handling courses for ghillies and bailiffs, team leader electrofishing instruction for biologists, through to financial management for those in charge. All the organisations involved with the Fisheries Management sector have identified
Reports
Ayrshire Rivers Trust
Annual Review -
janette@ayrshireriverstrust.org
Wester Ross Fisheries Trust
Annual Review 06/07 -
info@wrft.org.uk
West Sutherland Fisheries Trust
Annual Review 06/07 -
shona@wsft.demon.co.uk
Hatchery Work In Support of
Salmon Fisheries - FRS Report
www.frs-scotland.gov.uk
(under information resources)
Planning Controls for Marine
Fish Farms - SPP Guidelines
john.o’brien@scotland.gov.uk
Spey Fishery Board
Annual Report -
www.speyfisheryboard.com
Fisheries Committee - Guidance
Document To Hydro Developers -
andrew.dailly@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
2008 Diary Dates
RAFTS Executive Committee 22 Jan
IFM Committee 4 Feb
ASFB Council 12 Feb
IFM AGM, Perth 21 Feb
RAFTS AGM 6 March
RAFTS Annual Conference 7 March
ASFB/IFM Bailiff’s Conf. 17/18 March
ASFB Council 6 May
IFM Committee 12 May
RAFTS/ASFB Exec Comm 20 May
NASCO Asturias 2-6 June
Tweed Foundation 25 yrs 5-6 June
CASS End of project conf. 11/12 June
ASFB Executive Committee 8 July
IFM Committee 11 Aug
ASFB Council 19 Aug
RAFTS General Committee 16 Sept
ASFB Executive Committee 30 Sept
RAFTS Executive Committee 21 Oct
IFM Committee 3 Nov
ASFB AGM 11 Nov
* all dates subject to alteration
Newsfrom the
Institute of
Fisheries
Management
(Scotland)
Trust Questionnaire - A questionnaire is being developed to gather information from the Fisheries Trusts to help RAFTS accurately describe and promote the activities of its members. This will be collated into a database of information about the Trust network which will be useful for funding a presentational initiatives.
IFM AGM –
21 February 2008
The AGM will take place at 18:00 at the Innkeepers Lodge, Isle of Skye Hotel, Perth on 21 February. If you wish to attend, please contact Brian Davidson, Scottish Branch Secretary.6 : Scottish Freshwater Fisheries Management Report : FEBRUARY 2008
the need for training at whatever level. However accurate identification of what is needed, where and how to obtain that training and how to pay for it are all questions that have meant that, in the past, delivery of effective training has been less than satisfactory. IFM is working with Lantra in an attempt to establish a post that will effectively co-ordinate and deliver this service to the industry in the future. In 2007 a false start was made and confusion over priorities north and south of the border effectively put the initiative back a year. However in 2008 it is hoped to deliver an effective training strategy and have someone in post – which coincidentally will satisfy PFA 19 of the current Strategic Framework Document.
Angling Guide Training - This project is making good progress and the Project Team met several times during the course of 2007. The Units for the course have now been approved by SQA and work is underway to prepare the course content through Barony College. It is hoped that the course will be launched as a pilot in 2008. The initial aim is to have a customised award which will create a system of accredited angling guides in Scotland. There is also another course being designed to assist ghillies and this is being developed through Northern College, and both initiatives will work together.
Winter Events
In the past IFM organised a programme of winter evening events, normally in conjunction with local fishery organisations throughout Scotland. Over the past few years, due to the work load involved with Scottish Government consultations, development of the Fisheries Bill and the Strategic Framework, the Scottish Branch Committee has unfortunately been too busy to undertake the regional event organising. It is our intention to reverse this trend and in the next few months a number of joint events run in conjunction with the Wild Trout Trust are envisaged. The timing of these will be announced shortly. Next winter (2008/09) IFM hopes to get back to liaising locally and participating in events that are of genuine interest to local anglers in Scotland.
Bailiff Training - The Annual Bailiff’s Seminar was held on 28/29 March 2007 at the Ben Wyvis Hotel, Strathpeffer. This was the first time the event was moved away from the ‘traditional’ location of Pitlochry. The main purpose of this was is to allow delegates to appreciate fishery management issues in other parts of Scotland, to allow greater networking and to build in field visits into the programme. This year’s event covered a diverse range of topics and various speakers discussed the status of sea trout stocks in Scotland, issues relating to estuarial fishing, problems facing the European eel, the role of Wildlife Crime Officers and interactions between seals and salmon. The feedback from delegates from this new approach was very positive and it is now the intention to run future seminars on the basis above and move them to interesting locations elsewhere in Scotland. The 2008 event will be held on 17 and 18 March at the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel near Melrose in the Borders and will hosted by the River Tweed Commission. Registration form enclosed.Scottish Freshwater Fisheries Management Report : FEBRUARY 2008 : 7
AST Report on Smolt Imports – John Webb of the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST) completed a report following his observation of procedures for the packaging and transport of Atlantic salmon eggs from hatcheries in Norway to hatchery sites in Scotland. This follows concern about the implications to UK Fish Health Status that may result from large scale salmon egg importation. The Fish Health Inspectorate at Fisheries Research Services (FRS) who accompanied John Webb during his visit have welcomed his report and have prepared a response with information which is hoped will prove useful in the light of the anomalies in procedures and comments which are raised in John’s report. The UK Fish Health authorities have met with the Norwegian authorities who are now fully aware of the anomalies which have occurred and will work to ensure that certification and notification is improved. In addition, the Norwegian company SalmoBreed who trade eggs with Scotland visited FRS to discuss trade issues with the Scottish Fish Health Inspectorate.
AST New Director
The AST have appointed a new Director - Tony Andrews - who will start work on Seymour Monro’s retirement in May after four successful years with the Trust. Tony is known to many as the current Director of the Scottish Countryside Alliance. We wish Tony well in his new appointment and wish Seymour well in his retirement.
Cypermethrin Sheep Dip – In mid April 2007 a decision was made to continue with the market authorisation ban on the use of Cypermethrin as sheep dip.
Net Loss Campaign – The Salmon and Trout Association has just launched its Net Loss campaign in an attempt to acquire on a willing buyer / willing seller basis Scotland’s remaining mixed stock interceptory salmon fisheries (MSFs) that take fish from more than one river of origin. S&TA, supported by most of the main wild salmon management organisations believes that, in accordance with NASCO agreements supported by advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), mixed stock fisheries present a threat to effective wild salmon management. For further information call: 0845 602 5243 or email info@salmon-trout.org
Changes at the top – In 2007 the new SNP administration appointed Richard Lochhead as Cabinet Secretary for the environment and Mike Russell, Minister for the Environment. We have had good contact with Richard Lochhead over recent years in his capacity as shadow fisheries minister and he is familiar with many of the issues and, as MSP for Moray, has developed an understanding of fisheries matters through regular contact with the Spey Fishery Board and Trust. With the departure of the old administration we also saw the retiral of Gordon Brown, head of Aquaculture and Freshwater Fisheries at the then Scottish Executive. Gordon, as chair of the Fisheries Forum had been a good supporter of freshwater fisheries issues over recent years and his enthusiasm and support for our work will be sadly missed. Gordon was appointed a richly deserved OBE in the New Year Honours List. We wish him well in his retirement. We also would like to welcome his replacement, Heather Jones. Her email is: heather.jones@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
.
Bleeding Vent Syndrome – The 2007 grilse run appears to have been much less affected by thin grilse than last year. However the prevalence of bleeding and damaged vents is reported to be widespread in 1SW fish. Samples are being submitted to FRS Aberdeen for testing and the cause is thought to be a common parasitic worm Anasakis which is found in many marine fish species. The situation is being monitored and an assessment has been made of both risks to humans and to the breeding success of salmon. Anasakis is thought to potentially be a human health issue and therefore it would be wise to ensure all fish are properly cooked before human consumption. Further information has been provided in a briefing paper produced by FRS click here for details.
We are asking FRS for clarification on whether affected fish should be released or retained, whether they present a human health risk, whether the condition improves in freshwater and whether affected fish will be compromised during spawning.
Other NewsInBrief8 : Scottish Freshwater Fisheries Management Report : FEBRUARY 2008
River Irvine - two separate cases have been passed to the ACA to deal with. One at Galston involving, significant flood prevention being undertaken on the Burn Ann which has caused serious sediment pollution of the main River Irvine and threatened to remove the spawning potential of the Burn Ann for salmon and trout. The ACA has visited the site twice and has met with the East Ayrshire Council. Various mitigation measures have been to the East Ayrshire Council. River Irvine, Darvel - A significant fish kill followed a farm slurry pollution incident. The farmer is very likely to be prosecuted and, in the meantime, the ACA is collecting witness statements and other information from the anglers and from the Ayrshire Rivers Trust. Once the SEPA prosecution is complete, the ACA will obtain the prosecution files and bring a parallel civil claim against the farmer for the damage to the fishery. River Ugie - Chemical pollution incident on a tributary of the River Ugie. SEPA identified the polluter but failed to prosecute, satisfying themselves instead with a formal warning letter to the offending factory site. The ACA will act for both the fishing club tenant and also the freeholder of the fishing rights on the Ugie and bring a civil claim against the polluter very shortly. Rotten Calder, R.Clyde - A severe sewage pollution incident from the Allers Sewage Treatment Works at East Kilbride. The ACA is obtaining SEPA’s papers at a cost of over £500 in copying charges and will use information in SEPA’s papers, together with that held by Willie Yeomans of the Clyde River Foundation to bring a claim in damages against Scottish Water in due course.
In addition to these cases, the ACA is investigating the following: red diesel pollution incident on the River Irvine; over-abstraction for trout farming on the River Ericht; over-abstraction for public water supply by Scottish Water on the Dee; over-abstraction by Scottish Water on the Isle of Skye; rainbow trout escapes in the Tay Catchment (the River Garry), the Awe and the Lochy; an obstruction to the passage of fish at the Morphie Dyke on the North Esk.
The ACA is delighted to have the volunteer services of Rob Younger, an English qualified solicitor, now working in Scotland. Rob is also a keen fisherman in his own right. The ACA is funded entirely by donations and membership subscriptions from individuals, angling clubs and proprietors. It can only fight these legal cases on behalf of its members if anglers support its work. Membership forms are available by phoning 01568 620447 and there is an online subscription facility on its website: www.a-c-a.org
Newsfrom the anglers’ conservationassociation- aca
Contacts...
ASFB & RAFTS
CBCHouse, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EG. T. 0131 272 2797 F. 0131 272 2800
Andrew Wallace : Managing Director ASFB & RAFTS
a.r.wallace@btinternet.com
07798 666553
Brian Davidson : Director ASFB
asfb@btconnect.com
07775 918754
Callum Sinclair : Director RAFTS
callum@rafts.org.uk
07766 221444
Coreen Scott : Administrator ASFB & RAFTS
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