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The Awe Fisheries Trust
Contact Information :
Alan Kettle-White(Biologist) Email: [email protected] Old Schoolhouse Ardchonnel By Dalmally Argyll PA33 1BW Scotland Tel: (01866) 844293
P. Bowden-Smith (Chairman) Braevallich Farm
By Dalmally Argyll PA33 IBG Scotland Tel: (01866) 844246
The Trust:
The AFT became a registered charity in 1995 and has been actively carrying out biological monitoring of fish stocks and implemetation of fisheries management in the catchments of the River Awe (including Loch Awe and the River Orchy), the River Kinglass (Loch Etive) and the River Etive since October, 1997. Detailed Trust objectives can be found in our Management Plan:
Awe Fisheries Trust Management Plan 1996 - 1999:
A fisheries management plan relies upon the co-ordination of data collection and analysis with fundamental research into relevant topics to devise action that will benefit the future state of fish stocks.
This plan has been prepared by the Fisheries Biologist and the Trustees as a systematic review of strategic decisions required to allow the Trust to fulfill its aims and assist with decisions regarding the actions and financial requirements during the next three years.
The broad remit of the Awe Fisheries Trust is to monitor, manage and ultimately enhance the fisheries within the Awe catchment. The primary role of the biologist is to gather relevant data on the freshwater environment and raise awareness of fisheries issues through dissemination of information to the public and to relevant bodies such as the LAIA and ADSFB, FA and SEPA. Information collected via research will be used in formulating decisions to further the goal of integrated catchment management.
The work of the Trust during the coming three years will be initially concerned with identifying the resource (both past and present) to correctly interpret current states. Beneficial management actions can only then be implemented, based firmly on this knowledge, to improve future conditions.
SWOT analysis:
As an interactive part of any management policy an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is necessary prior to formulating future strategies. The following SWOT analysis has been taken into account by the Management Committee in determining the current plan:
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS
The Board of Trustees commends the actions proposed in this document as a strategic plan to guide the Trust for the next three years (1996-1999)
Ethos
To actively encourage a holistic approach towards management of land, water and fisheries, allowing the restoration and maintenance of a natural ecological balance within the aquatic environment.
Objectives
The following statements summarise the objectives of the Awe Fisheries Trust during the coming three years. These aims shall be forwarded by carrying out the relevant action plans.
1.Understand the composition of all fish stocks, pressures on them and trends in abundance
2. Identify, protect and improve juvenile stocks of trout and salmon throughout the Trust area
3. Understand, protect and enhance the physical environment for fish
4. Educate all sectors of the community on their role in caring for the freshwater environment
Action plan
Objective 1:
a. Collate existing data on fish stocks
b. Examine historical angling catch returns
c. Instigate a comprehensive system to record angling catches
d. Establish model stream systems to estimate catchment productivity
e. Examine the age structure of populations through scale reading
f. Investigate the fish population structure in Loch Awe and Avich
g. Examine dynamics of resident and migratory spawning populations
h. Attempt to quantify predation pressures on fish stocks
Objective 2:
a. Conduct a comprehensive juvenile population survey
b. identify areas where improvements are necessary
c. Identify areas where artificial enhancement may be appropriate
d. Advise on the future of current stocking policies
Objective 3:
a. Collate existing information on the freshwater habitat.
b. Conduct comprehensive habitat surveys in juvenile rearing areas
c. Identify areas where physical habitat is restricting production
d. Advise on improvements necessary to maximise production
e. Conduct appropriate chemical and biological sampling of water quality
Objective 4:
a. Liase with governing bodies and land owners on their responsibilities
b. Collaborate with relevant parties on research topics of mutual interest
c. Raise the awareness of anglers regarding their role in conservation
d. Disseminate information through illustrated lectures to the public
e. Introduce primary schools projects
PROGRESS:
The following is a brief progress report compiled by the biologist, Dec, 1997:
Biologists Progress Report, December 1997
During 1997 the Trust has been involved in a number of projects whose various aims have been guided by those set out in our Management Plan. The biologist has been largely involved in dissemination of information and forging links with a number of user groups during the past year. The biological field work was largely unhampered by poor weather and progress has been excellent, resulting in a huge quantity of data being collected on the fish populations in the catchments of the Trust rivers. This data is currently being analysed to allow the compilation of an Annual Report. The following passages are an attempt at summarizing the major projects to date.
I. JUVENILE POPULATION SURVEYS. The data collected during electrofishing surveys during the previous summer are currently being collated and entered into a standardised database prior to interpretation. In total 125 sites were visited with widely varying densities of juvenile salmonids. This survey will need to be completed during the latter half of summer 1998 as areas of the Orchy catchment (including those of the Strae and Lochy) and a number of Loch Awe's smaller tributaries were not visited last year.
II. LOCH SURVEYING. Gillnetting surveys of Loch Awe and Loch Avich have been completed and the fish are awaiting processing prior to any data analysis. It was decided to terminate sampling prior to spawning time: Fish collected from loch sampling in February, April, June, and August will now form the basis of the results to be compared to Willie Duncan's survey in 1987.
III. SEA TROUT SAMPLING IN LOCH ETIVE. Sea trout sampling at the mouths of the Rivers Awe, Kinglass and Etive has been completed for the year with nearly 400 fish receiving individual tags and collection of 40 samples of sea lice for genetic analysis. Many fish have been recaptured during the monthly netting events, indicating that the fish are resident in these brackish water habitats during the summer period. Sampling during the winter months would not have been possible as a result of difficulties coordinating volunteers time and equipment. The results of this survey await analysis.
IV. FISH TRAP CONSTRUCTION. During August and September a fish trap was designed and built on a spawning stream on Loch Awe's southern shore. This facility enables us to monitor the timing, number and composition of both the emigrating juveniles and returning adults in a short (1km) section of "typical" spawning habitat. So far the trap has been performing well, with over 500 mature trout sampled during the last 7 weeks. Juvenile trout and salmon are continuing to drop down the system presumably in order to find more suitable wintering habitat. Many interesting trends in run-timing are emerging and although labour intensive, the data collected will provide important basic information on stocks. Additional funds are needed to allow us to use this facility to its maximum potential.
V. ADVISING ON STOCK ENHANCEMENT. In addition to marking and planting out fry this year, a report presented by the AFT biologist to the ADSFB regarding alterations to the current salmon enhancement methods has been accepted in principle. Recommendations included changes to collection of broodstock and hatchery practices. It is hoped that these recommendations can be fully implemented as soon as possible to maximize efficiency.
VI. RESEARCH GRANTS. Two applications to NERC (Natural and Environmental Research Council) have been made recently in collaboration with Glasgow University to fund research relevant to the management of fisheries in the Trust area. One is to fund a postgraduate student for 3 years (starting October, 1998) to investigate polymorphism in brown trout stocks in Loch Awe, the other a post-doctoral position researching the relative contributions of allochthonous (non-stream originating i.e. riparian), and autochthonous (primary productivity within the aquatic ecosystem) material as carbon and nitrogen sources and their importance to the food-chain in different areas of the Awe catchment. Results of these applications shall not be known until spring, 1998.
VII. HABITAT SURVEYING. A full survey of the availability and suitability of juvenile habitat in the streams and rivers of the Awe catchment is planned for early summer, 1998. This is essential information, required to interpret the electrofishing results meaningfully and identify any areas where improvements can be made. This will involve a great deal of time and it must be realized that additional assistance will be required for such a project to be a success.
VIII. WATER QUALITY SAMPLING. A sampling scheme for water quality is being prepared to allow 50 sites to be sampled 3 times during the coming year under high and extreme low flows. This project is hoped to start during late January and shall require a high level of assistance to allow collection of 50 samples from a wide area on the same day.
IX. FISH DISEASE The AFT assisted with the collection of a sample of wild and escaped fish in Loch Awe for SOAEFD Fish Health Inspectors during September. The results of this sampling are to be forwarded to the AFT upon completion. Due to an apparently high incidence of dying and moribund trout around Loch Awe in recent weeks, I met with the SOAEFD Fish Health Inspector in December to pass on samples of dead fish and discuss future arrangements for information transfer.
X. WORKING GROUP. 3 meetings have been held this year at Ardchonnel, allowing those involved with the sharp end of fisheries management (the bailiffs and wardens) a chance to meet and exchange information, These meetings have proven to be a great success and shall be continued during 1998.
How You Can Get Involved
The Awe Fisheries Trust membership scheme:
Scottish Charity No. SCO24181 Reg. 17th Nov. 1995
The Awe Fisheries Trust relies heavily upon voluntary contributions, without which our survey work and action plans could not be undertaken. By joining the Awe Fisheries Trust and lending your support towards this initiative, you shall be assisting with the conservation and management of our precious local fisheries resource. Upon joining you shall receive a copy of the Awe Fisheries Trust Management Plan that details the Trusts' aims and objectives during the coming years. You shall receive regular progress reports and news from the Trust via biannual newsletters and a full annual report.
Membership Subscription:
Please send a cheque made payable to The Awe Fisheries Trust to:
The Awe Fisheries Trust
Old Schoolhouse
Ardchonnel By Dalmally
Argyll
PA33 1BW
Scotland
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