Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre
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Tay DSFB - More Information The Tay Catchment The Tay catchment covers an area of some 6475 square kilometres and discharges more water to the sea than any river in the United Kingdom. The headwaters of the Tay and its tributaries rise in the West Highlands and Southern Grampians. The greater proportion of the catchment lies north of the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF), which forms a north-easterly line from Buchanty Spout (River Almond) to between Dunkeld and Caputh, and continues through the Reekie Linn and Slug of Auchrannie (River Isla). North of the HBF, the geology generally consists of hard metamorphic rocks with occasional igneous intrusions. The Loch Tay/Glen Tilt Fault further divides this area, to the north of which is a hard granulite component and to the south a slightly softer schist component. The region north of the HBF is typically mountainous with the main rivers (Dochart, Lyon, Tummel, Garry, Ardle and Shee Water) flowing through wide straths. The smaller streams are mainly steep and obstructed by waterfalls and often limit access to upstream migration of fish. The area south of the HBF is characterised by a gentler topography associated with soft sedimentary rocks (mainly Old Red Sandstone). The rivers in the region (Isla, Dean Water, Lower Tay, Almond and Earn) are generally slower moving and flow through arable farmland. The soft nature of the rocks and rich soils in this region produce river and stream beds with a greater proportion of sand and silt than those north of the HBF. The Board Under the 1986 Act, the Board has statutory power to: Act, execute works and incur expenses for the protection or improvement of the fisheries within their District, for the increase of salmon and for the stocking of waters of the District with salmon. ('Salmon' includes all migratory fish of the species Salmo salar and Salmo trutta and commonly known as salmon and sea trout respectively or any part of any such fish). Appoint water bailiffs and other officers Impose an assessment on each salmon fishery in the District Objectives How You Can Help Return to Members Page Return to Previous Page