Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre
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Conon DSFB - More Information The Board The Conon District Salmon Fishery Board is a statutory body responsible for the protection and enhancement of migratory fish stocks within the Board�s jurisdiction. The CDSFB is responsible for the rivers Conon, Bran, Blackwater, Meig, Orrin, Peffery and a number of smaller rivers running into the Cromarty Firth. The Board is also responsible for the regulation of salmon exploitation within coastal waters. This extends three miles to sea from Tarbat Ness in the north to the South Sutor in the south and includes the Cromarty Firth. Main Areas of Fishery Board Activity The River Conon is the largest river in Ross-shire and flows into the Cromarty Firth near Dingwall. One of the main features of the system is the extensive hydro-electric scheme operated by Scottish Hydro-Electric, which affects all the main tributaries of the Conon. The Fishery Board has been working closely with Scottish Hydro-Electric in recent years to improve access for salmon to the upper tributaries. Much of the Conon system is dependent on artificial stocking from the hatchery at Contin. The Board is restocking areas of upper tributary habitat, which have not produced salmon for many years. The stock enhancement work is underpinned by a research programme, which involves co-operation on projects with FRS Freshwater Laboratory and a number of Universities. The research and monitoring programme has included; habitat surveys, radio-tracking of adult salmon, PIT tagging of parr and smolts, micro-tagging of smolts, juvenile electro-fishing surveys, ova trial basket experiments, pH and temperature monitoring, and a spring salmon enhancement project. Newsletter A Conon newsletter is produced on a six-monthly basis to provide information on the stock enhancement and research works taking place within the Conon system. It is intended to be distributed as widely as possible to all those who fish for salmon or who are interested in salmon conservation within the Conon district. How You Can Help Anglers can play an important role in the conservation and development of salmon stocks on the Conon. In order to restock the upper tributaries of the Conon the Fishery Board will have to collect sufficient brood-stock; anglers can help with this in two ways. Anglers can donate rod-caught salmon in the spring which can then be kept in the holding unit for stripping in November. These spring fish are particularly valuable for restocking. The spring stock contains a high proportion of hens and a large hen fish may contain over 10,000 ova. The Fishery Board will replace any spring fish donated with three grilse later in the year. In view of the poor marine survival of recent years anglers should retain no more fish than they need and should return as many as possible. Some short-term restraint will help to safeguard the breeding stock and improve angling in future seasons. Anglers can also help by reporting the capture of any fish with a missing adipose fin as it is likely to have been micro-tagged. There is a cash reward for each successfully recovered micro-tag. Such fish should, if possible be retained or deep-frozen for subsequent inspection by Fishery Board staff. The number to ring in all cases is (01997) 433405. Return to Members Page Return to Previous Page