Galloway Fisheries Trust

 

New GFT member of staff

Posted: 27th October 2009

Liz Etheridge started a few weeks ago with the GFT.  She will be the project officer for the ‘River Cree Rare Fish Project’ for the next three years.  Liz recently completed a PhD at Glasgow University on the ecology and conservation of a rare Scottish fish found in Loch Lomond called powan.  The ‘River Cree Rare Fish Project’ includes researching and organising management actions for various rare fish in the River Cree, including all three species of lamprey, shad, sparling and salmon.  The project aims to understand, protect and enhance these important fish and their habitats through an extensive range of works.  More details about this project will be available on the website in the near future.

Plans to wipe out Japanese knotweed round the Cree in Newton Stewart

Posted: 6th July 2009

Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT) has secured funding to undertake an intensive eradication programme of a problem weed which is threatening native plants and habitats around the River Cree in Newton Stewart. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an ornamental plant introduced to Europe from Asia over 100 years ago. Once established it grows rapidly shading out and killing other natural plant species. It is particularly problematic along side water courses where, once the natural plants have been shaded out, the river banks are very susceptible to erosion - knotweed dies back in the winter leaving no vegetation to protect against flood waters. Knotweed also offers poor habitat for native insects, birds and mammals. It is very difficult to control and the large underground roots can be up to 7 metres long and 2 metres deep. A piece of root or stem as small as a finger nail is enough to grow into a new plant, which is why knotweed should never be strimmed!

Japanese knotweed around the Cree has become a major worry in recent years with anglers, conservationists, dog walkers, land owners, etc all raising concerns that it is increasingly difficult to access or even see the Cree at many points and many other more desirable plant species are being lost. Up to 15 000 m2 of knotweed is present close to the Cree. GFT, Newton Stewart Angling Association and the Cree District Salmon Fishery Board have all been concerned that the knotweed along the river banks are now degrading these important areas and resulting in degraded fish habitat and increased erosion.

The Japanese knotweed will need to be treated up to 4 times a year over the next 3 years. As the knotweed eventually dies back, wild flower and grass seed will be planted to replace it, unless individual landowners wishes to plant something else themselves. This project is focussed only around the river but GFT are encouraging other landowners to kill their knotweed. Jamie Ribbens (senior biologist) said "non-native Japanese knotweed causes many environmental and economic problems throughout Galloway. It is becoming a major cause of degraded bankside habitat across a number of rivers and has the ability to push up through roads and even house foundations! We would urge all landowners, including the council, across the Cree catchment to start killing any knotweed they come across. You will need to be persistent as it can take up to 5 years of repeat herbicide spraying, to kill it right back. It is just going to keep getting worse unless we all make an effort to sort it out."

The Japanese knotweed control programme is part of the 'GFT River Cree Rare Fish Project'. This three year project (part funded by Tubney Environmental Trust, SNH and Esmee Fairbairn) is just starting and will be working on further understanding and enhancing the various rare fish and their habitats found in the Cree including Allis shad, Twaite shad, sparling and brook, river and sea lamprey species. Work will also be undertaken to enhance sea trout and salmon in the Palnure Burn and to encourage the recovery of spring salmon in the High Cree.

GFT is presently examining funding sources to undertake a similar programme of works on other local rivers including Japanese knotweed control on the Luce, Bladnoch, Fleet, Dee and Urr and controlling the more unusual Himalayan knotweed which is extensive on the Water of App. 

Wild Fish Health Inspection

Posted: 29th January 2009

GFT assisted the Fisheries Research Services (FRS) in collecting wild fish samples from around 30 salmon and trout as part of FRS’s annual wild fish health checks across Scotland.

25 Atlantic salmon parr and 5 brown trout were caught using electrofishing methods on the Water of Minnoch (tributary of the River Cree) in late November 2008. During initial investigations carried out back at the office, FRS inspectors uncovered 4 male salmon parr containing salmon eggs! (see picture below). A number of these parr were precocious (sexually mature males). It is believed to be quite common for parr to feed on salmon eggs during spawning time which have either been washed out of redds or are gobbled up as fertilisation is taking place! This nutrition may be important to help parr survive over winter.

FRS have now provided an interim wild fish health report and results from virology, bacteriology, molecular genetics and parasitology tests have all come back negative. We can therefore report a full bill of health in the Minnoch fish!

RAFTS/SFCC Biologist Meeting 2009

Posted: 26th January 2009

GFT Biologists recently attended the SFCC/RAFTS Annual Biologists’ Meeting at Pitlochry. It was a very interesting meeting which covered a range of subjects. Key items of particular interest which were discussed were:

• Development of a new electrofishing database for the Trusts. This new web-based database is desperately needed to ensure the safe efficient storage of data and easier analysis.

• The Scottish wide salmon genetics project – this project involves all Scottish Fishery trusts and FRS in partnership collecting genetic samples from juvenile salmon on all Scottish rivers. Once analysed the information will genetically profile each river so that any adult salmon tested in the future can be identified to its river of origin. In addition, by collecting samples from across a river catchment a spatial map of the discrete spawning populations can be produced. This type of information is crucial to consider when managing salmon populations. (Note: GFT collected some genetic samples from all Galloway rivers in 2008. We also, in 2008, started to collect the catchment wide sub-sample sets from the Luce and Cree but these are not yet completed).

• RAFTS Bio-security Planning Project – this important project will involve all Scottish Fishery Trusts writing a Bio-security Plan for their area. These plans will examine what non-native species (plant, parasite, disease, invertebrate, fish, mammal etc) are present and what risk there is of new species coming to their area (e.g. Chinese mitten crab). The plans will consider what measures are needed to address these damaging species and how to minimise the risk of new introductions.

Consultation Nearing Deadline - Please take Part!

Posted: 13th January 2009

Some of you may know already, there is Climate Change Consultation going through the Scottish Parliament at the moment and we urge you all to respond! The proposal comes from the Environment Minister Michael Russell and is essentially proposing the lease of a significant percentage of the National Forest (25%), in order to raise money to plant more trees in Scotland. This is in order to try and fight against climate change.

Although the Scottish Government guarantees the safeguarding of public benefits and jobs, there is limited guarantee for the safeguarding of the environment.  GFT are especially concerned since we have been working since 1988 with the Forestry Commission to try and ‘right’ many of the ‘wrongs’ that have taken place in many afforested areas of Galloway. Environmental benefits are being achieved because the Forestry Commission go above and beyond the legal requirements placed upon them.

The long term lease of a vast proportion of the National Forest to an outside company is of great concern.  Please do take the time to respond to this consultation and let your views be known!

The link to the consultation paper is here:
www.forestry.gov.uk

Help the sea trout!

Posted: 30th June 2009

Sea trout are an important fish species in local waters across Galloway.  They are found in most coastal burns and local rivers as long as there are no significant obstructions to their upstream migration.  Worryingly, stocks of sea trout have been declining recently around the UK with rod catches now at historical low levels.  This decrease in sea trout has also been seen in the local rivers.  Although various factors in the river will play a part in this decline (e.g. acidification and predation) it appears that something is significantly amiss during the marine phase of their life.  Sea trout typically live for two years in freshwater before migrating to sea as smolts to find greater food supplies.  They return to ‘their’ rivers in June / July to spawn a few months later.

In order to try to get to the bottom of the decline in sea trout a large three year project called the Celtic Sea Trout Project (part funded by EU INTERREG programme) has been established within which the Galloway Fisheries Trust and DSFBs of the Luce, Cree and Water of Fleet are partners.  This project is centred around the Irish Sea and will study sea trout from 80 different rivers in Scotland, England, Isle of Man, Ireland and Wales.  The project aims to understand more about the marine life stages of sea trout particularly what is causing the mortality at sea, where each rivers sea trout migrate to, is global warming the problem and how best to restore sea trout numbers.  The project will be collecting various data from all round the Irish Sea and the 80 project rivers running into it.  This is where help is needed now from anglers.  Up to 300 sets of sea trout scales are needed from each of the River Luce, Cree and Water of Fleet.  A few scales can be collected from rod caught fish doing them no harm and they can be released again afterwards.  These scales can hold a lot of information and a genetic profile of stocks can be built up, as well as information such as time spent at sea versus freshwater.  If you would like to get involved please contact the Galloway Fisheries Trust.  Scale packets, guidance on collecting scales from fish and more information on the overall project are all available on request. 

GFT Update

Posted: 20th March 2009

This is a very busy time for the Trust biologists but we appreciate the importance of up-dating you all on what the GFT has been up to in the last few weeks.

Please find a summary below:

• GFT have objected to a proposed large scale new forestry plantation at Duchrae (Kirkcudbrightshire Dee catchment)
• Mink trapping project now underway on the Dee/Fleet catchments (thank you to Scottish Power/SEPA for funding)
• Planting out of eyed salmon ova from the hatchery has been undertaken on the Fleet (>6.5k), Bladnoch (>42k) and Cree (>120k). Remaining fed fry to be planted out in April. Thanks to all the volunteers for their help (see picture)
• 7 local primary schools are running ‘Salmon In The Classroom’ at present
• River Restoration Centre director visited the lower River Urr to advise GFT and Urr DSFB on possible restoration projects on the lower river
• GFT continue to fight SNP proposals to lease upto 25% of forest estate to foreign investors – latest update – these proposals are to be abandoned
• GFT hosted a visit from Andrew Wallace (Managing Director ADSFB/RAFTS), Callum Sinclair (RAFTS director) and Roger Brook (RAFTS Chairman) to see our work and local issues

• Egg boxes planted out on the Bladnoch (two sites on the Polbae Burn) to study acidification
• Writing up the migratory fish monitoring report looking at the possible impacts of the construction and running of Robin Rigg Wind Farm (off-shore farm in the Solway). Comprehensive monitoring programme covering sparling, shad, salmon, sea trout and lampreys
• Comment supplied regarding 3 proposed local windfarms
• Attended various meetings regarding development of new electrofishing database for Fishery Trusts
• Various work and study undertaken on the Cree sparling population which spawned during early/mid March. Work included moving eggs to a neighbouring river as part of a re-introduction programme
• GFT staff gave presentation at recent RAFTS conference regarding River Cree fish population
• New set of Constant Monitoring Equipment installed on Water of Fleet (monitors river pH every 15 minutes)
• Continuation of Bladnoch, Cree and Urr Spring salmon catch and release initiative. Anglers who return an alive salmon until the 1st June qualify for a side of smoked salmon (a scale sample and photo needs to be supplied to GFT to qualify for the reward). The project is supported by Annan based Pinneys of Scotland

Mink Training Day

Posted: 26th January 2009

As you maybe aware, a trapping project of American mink has started across the catchments of the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee and Water of Fleet. This project will be mainly undertaken by volunteers made up from land owners, anglers, rangers, conservationists and gamekeepers across these two river catchments. American mink predation is believed to be a key reason for the decline in water voles. Mink are also an important predator of spawning adult salmonids and their parr. Before the trapping began, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) along with the GFT held a training day in Parton Village Hall on 13/01/09.

The training day began mid morning with a presentation on the history of the American Mink and how it became established in Great Britain. We also covered the health and safety issue of working on river banks during all weathers. After a short coffee break, we all headed outside to be introduced to the different types of traps. For our project, we will be using Cage traps.

After a light lunch, we returned outside to have a hands-on practical session to look at how to deploy and maintain the GWCT ‘Mink rafts’, the setting of the clay tray to record tracks of water voles and mink, and the humane dispatch of the captured Mink.

The GFT felt the day was highly successful, and with a good attendance. GFT would like to thank everyone who attended the day and hope they all enjoyed it and found it useful. Although there is a good spread of trappers across the two catchments we are still keen to expand this project further so please get in touch if you live in the eligible area and wish to get involved.

GFT would like to thank Scottish Power for funding and to SEPA's Catchment Management Project for their support.

The Wild Trout Trust - Internet & Postal Auction 2009

Posted: 12th January 2009

Monday 30th March to Wednesday 8th April
Over 150 Lots with Guide Prices from £15

• Fishing days with Brian Clarke, Charles Rangeley-Wilson, Mike Weaver and many more.
• Many unique and exclusive beats not available to the public.
• Fishing throughout the UK, Ireland …and Iceland!
• Flies tied by experts including Paul Proctor and Oliver Edwards.
• Art & Literature, including signed and limited editions.
• Fishing Tackle and Fishing Tuition.
• Shooting lots.

The Wild Trout Trust is dedicated to improving habitat for wild trout by giving practical advice and help to clubs and owners. Buying an auction lot directly contributes to our conservation projects, so please bid generously!

Auction catalogue, postal bid form and link to the eBay auction: www.wildtrout.org. For a paper catalogue call 023 9257 0985 or email office@wildtrout.org.

Galloway Fisheries Trust

Fisheries House, Station Industrial Estate, Newton Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. DG8 6ND
Telephone: 01671 403011      Fax: 01671 402248      E-mail: mail@gallowayfisheriestrust.org
Scottish Registered Charity No. SC020751

 

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