Galloway Fisheries Trust


Galloway Fisheries Trust



 

Education

Education, training and awareness raising are key aspects of the work of the GFT. We work with all ages on a range of programmes.

Local primary schools across the region can undertake the GFT award winning project "Salmon In The Classroom". This project was started in Galloway by the GFT in 1991 and has been so successful that it has been rolled out across most of Scotland. Participating schools have a visit from a biologist who gives an informative talk about salmon, rivers and the work of the Trust. They are given a specialised classroom hatchery tank with 100 eyed salmon eggs. The children rear these eggs until returning them as unfed fry to their natal river.

Salmon in the Classroom
Salmon in the Classroom

Later in the year GFT staff and the children return to the release site and watch GFT carry out electrofishing to recapture 'their' fish and to study the fish populations present. To learn more about this project including downloading educational teaching aids see www.snh.org.uk/salmonintheclassroom.

GFT run a range of training programmes. In conjunction with the Barony College, both Introductory and Team Leader Electrofishing SVQ Courses are run in the early summer. SFCC Habitat Survey Training Courses are run from the GFT office in Newton Stewart.

Electrofishing training
Electrofishing training

GFT staff give talks and presentations to a wide audience including angling clubs, district salmon fishery boards, wildlife groups, rotary clubs, etc. We also attend and provide informative displays at a number of local agricultural shows and country shows.

Focussed seminars and workshops are also regularly organised by GFT. These have included awareness raising of the threats of Gyrodactylus salaris and understanding the importance of considering genetics when planning stocking programmes.

Galloway Fisheries Trust