Galloway Fisheries Trust


Galloway Fisheries Trust



 

Research

Surveys
GFT staff are fully trained to undertake a range of specialised surveys. Surveys are undertaken for a wide number of purposes. The health and abundance of wild fish stocks need to be monitored regularly. Water quality, in particular acidification and siltation, may need quantified in areas at risk. Instream and riparian habitats can be mapped highlighting spawning beds, nursery areas and degraded habitats. GFT have been involved in Site Condition Monitoring for sparling and salmon.

Netting for sparling
Netting for sparling

GFT undertake a range of focussed electrofishing surveys for different fish species including juvenile salmonids, lamprey larvae and eels. Netting surveys, using gill nets and seine nets, are used to provide important data. GFT also hold a range of fyke nets that can be used to collect fish. Commercial nets may also play an important role in providing samples. A range of habitat survey techniques are used depending on the surveys purpose. Disease and parasite testing is important to monitor the health of fish stocks. Growth rates and condition factors are also examined to ensure healthy fish populations are present. Freshwater pearl mussel surveys are undertaken to highlight sensitive areas.

These surveys are undertaken to advise District Salmon Fishery Boards, inform fishery owners, direct and monitor restoration programmes, input to Environmental Impact Assessments, Site Condition Monitoring, research programmes and under contract.

Rare Fish
The waters of Dumfries and Galloway contain an abundance of fish species, more than any other part of Scotland. This includes a number of native fish species which are now considered rare. Most of these fish species are protected or listed under various local and international legislation. All are listed as UK Biodiversity Action Plan species.

The GFT has undertaken, and will continue to complete extensive monitoring surveys of these rare fish. Where practical, enhancement work is undertaken aimed at stabilising and increasing these ‘at risk’ species.

Sparling (commonly known as smelt), are found in the River Cree. This is one of only three populations in Scotland, and the only remaining one on the west coast. GFT have undertaken Site Condition Monitoring (for SNH), research on swimming speeds, radio tracking project, have written a species action plan, provided genetic samples and are working on a reintroduction programme to a neighbouring river.

Sparling
Sparling

Allis shad and Twaite shad are extremely rare fish. GFT has been working with the Fish Conservation Centre and local netsmen to collect fish samples which are then analysed. Of particular interest, is that the spawning condition of the fish suggest that they spawn in or near the Cree.

Lamprey species (brook, river and sea) are known to use most of the Galloway rivers. GFT have undertaken specialised juvenile lamprey surveys now for the last six years, collected data on spawning sea lampreys and capture samples of spawning river lampreys.

Lamprey transformers
Lamprey transformers

 


Water Quality Monitoring
Water Quality Monitoring

Acidification
Galloway is prone to surface water acidification from atmospheric deposition due to possessing poorly buffered underlying base-poor geology and soils, which are unable to neutralise acidic inputs. Forested areas exacerbate the process of acidification especially coniferous trees which are particularly efficient at scavenging and filtering acidity. Typically acidification occurs as an episodic event, closely linked to water flow. Prolonged acidic episodes are usually only present in headwater areas, although even here, pH levels will fluctuate depending on rainfall and water flows.

The actual effects of surface water acidification on fish varies with each species. Salmon populations are particularly sensitive and research shows that if pH falls below 5.5, long term damage will occur. Juvenile life stages (principally eggs and alevins) are particularly sensitive. When the pH of a watercourse is low, toxic forms of aluminium may also be released, which may also lead to mortality of older fish.

It is believed that approximately 80% of Scotland’s acidification is in Galloway! The worst acidified areas include the headwaters of the Luce, Water of Tarf, River Bladnoch, High Cree, Big Water of Fleet / Little Water of Fleet and Black Water of Dee. The majority of these areas are heavily afforested with coniferous forestry plantations. In all of these watercourses GFT electrofishing results show severely impacted fish populations or the total extinction of fish. Salmon are very rarely found here even though historical information suggests that most were important spring salmon nursery areas.

Poor forestry planting on the Fleet
Poor forestry planting on the Fleet

A lot of the work of the GFT is associated with monitoring and undertaking research associated with acidification. GFT run four sets of continual monitoring equipment (recording pH and water depth and temperature) on the headwaters of the Luce, Bladnoch, High Cree and Big Water of Fleet. In spring time a water sample testing programme is also undertaken across the acidified areas. GFT egg box experiments examine impacts on salmonid egg survival. All this information is used to input and direct the restructuring of conifer forests in sensitive areas. Whilst a lot has been achieved there is still a lot to do! The Forest and Water Guidelines (4th Edition) is the main control mechanism regarding conifer planting (both new and restructuring). In the Guidelines the Critical Load Analysis (CLA) is used to identify areas at risk of acidification and is meant to control replanting to ensure water quality recovers in the future. GFT and various other groups do not have faith in the present system though and are working to ensure CLA is refined to be more sensitive and to use biological data to ensure we get a full recovery of all acidified waters in Galloway.

Genetic Sampling
Genetics is becoming more popular as a tool for fisheries management and between 2008 and 2010 GFT will be involved in two genetics projects. The first is a European wide programme that is due to be completed in 2009 and involves collecting genetic samples from each river in Europe meaning that any rod or net caught fish can be identified to river level. The second project is more thorough and involves collecting samples from a number of sites across a river catchment in order to determine separate breeding populations. GFT is collecting samples from the Luce, Bladnoch, Cree, Fleet, Dee and Urr. In essence, any fish caught in future can be traced back to the particular part of its native river. For example with the first project we will be able to identify a fish as being from the Cree and with the second project we will be able to determine where on the Cree that fish has come from i.e. the Penkiln Burn.

Collecting genetic samples from salmon parr
Collecting genetic samples from salmon parr

Genetic sampling is an exciting modern method of fisheries management that will provide us will invaluable information on fish in the local rivers, putting us at the forefront of salmon management.

Galloway Fisheries Trust