Wester Ross Fisheries Trust - More Information
The Trust
The Wester Ross Fisheries Trust (WRFT) was established in 1996 and is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation, restoration and development of salmon and trout fisheries in Wester Ross. WRFT is not a pressure group and has no legal powers. It is funded by local District Salmon Fishery Boards, landowners and salmon farms. Further funding has been acquired from other charitable trusts.
Objectives
Stocks of wild salmon and sea trout are declining throughout the Scottish Highlands to an all-time low. Possible causes include over-fishing at sea and in freshwater, salmon farms, seal predation, the effects of acid rain on spawning burns and global climate change. Even stocks of hill loch brown trout may be suffering. The problem means more than just a few unhappy anglers. The business that visiting fishermen bring to the Highlands is very valuable - a recent study estimated that every rod-caught sea trout is worth �1,000 to the local economy. Clearly the vanishing salmon and sea trout should be of concern to everyone, not just fishermen.
The aim of the Wester Ross Fisheries Trust is to tackle this problem from the River Kanaird in the north to the River Carron in the south. By co-ordinating fisheries management and undertaking applied research the WRFT hopes to conserve and rehabilitate the rivers in the Wester Ross area.
Current Projects
Catch records are being analysed from rivers, lochs and netting stations to try and establish the pattern of stock declines. A major concern is the decreasing average size of sea trout and salmon, which may indicate a deterioration of marine feeding due to commercial over-fishing of their natural prey such as sandeels. Smaller fish produce fewer eggs, and therefore fewer young.
Electrofishing surveys have been carried out in all catchments to establish the densities of young salmon and trout. This survey, first conducted in 1997 will be repeated every summer so that any changes can be identified and monitored.
The Shieldaig Sea Trout Project: In several Wester Ross rivers sea trout have all but disappeared, and it will be necessary to assist their recovery. As a model for the restoration of wild sea trout throughout the West Highlands FRS Freshwater Laboratory has set up the Shieldaig Sea Trout Project at Shieldaig on Loch Torridon. Adult sea trout from Shieldaig and other systems are trapped and stripped of their eggs, which are hatched in �captivity� with the help of Inverness Technical College�s Seafield Centre at Kishorn. In this way a reserve bank of wild sea trout is being established for experimental stocking. A permanent fish trap is to be built near the mouth of the river so that an accurate count can be made of the numbers of fish migrating to and from the sea. The results will indicate the effectiveness of the experimental work.
Education: As well as conducting research and promoting effective fisheries management, WRFT is keen to inform the public about its work. Please contact Peter about presentations to angling clubs, schools or anyone who might be interested in fish conservation in the WRFT area.
Newsletter
A Wester Ross newsletter is produced on a regular basis to provide information on the progress of the Trust. These newsletters are sent directly to Trust members.
How You Can Help
Volunteers: If anyone is interested in joining in with the work, all volunteers are welcome. The electro-fishing survey, in particular, requires several pairs of hands, and is fun. It provides a great chance to learn about the biology of Highland rivers.
Dead fish: If you see or hear anything of interest, please contact the Trust: in particular, dead or dying fish (e.g. intercepted poacher�s catches, kelts, sea lice-infested sea trout, diseased fish), in freshwater or the sea. If possible, please put fish individually in plastic bags, refridgerate them, and contact WRFT as soon as possible. If you know of escapes of fish farm salmon, it would be very useful if you could note where and when. Dead fish-eating birds are also of interest, particularly herons, cormorants, goosanders and mergansers; again, if you can face it, please freeze the carcass and get in touch!
Tagged trout: Sea trout sampled for their sea lice burdens have also been tagged. Tagged fish are released in the hope that they will be recaptured by fishermen or at netting stations. This information gives a better idea of how far sea trout move around the coast. A project is being undertaken by all of the west coast fisheries trusts, so it is very possible that fishermen in Wester Ross will catch sea trout tagged in Sutherland, Lochaber, the Western Isles or Argyll. If you do catch a tagged sea trout, please contact the Trust. Tagged sea trout and finnock can be recognised firstly by the fact that their adipose fin (the small fleshy fin in front of the tail) will be missing or clipped. If the adipose is clipped there will be a Visual Implant tag behind one of the eyes, which will be coloured and numbered, eg. Black D95
Membership: You can become a member of the Trust by making a voluntary donation. As a member you will receive copies of the WRFT�s annual review and research reports. For information, please contact Peter Cunningham.
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