Association of
Salmon Fishery Boards

THE startling numbers of salmon caught in the Tweed last year have left anglers wondering whether the figures are a sign of climate change or just a blip.

The second-best year ever for salmon catches on the River Tweed has generally been welcomed – 20,836 salmon were reported caught last year (down from 31,321 in 2010), 4,154 were caught by nets and 16,682 by rod and line – 68 per cent of the latter being released by anglers.

Last year was the first in which full catch and release for salmon was compulsory for the whole spring season.

The record-breaking figure was released by the River Tweed Commissioners (RTC) this week in their report for 2011, which includes details of salmon and sea trout catches.

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The Berwick Advertiser

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The Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) has agreed a ground-breaking co-operation accord with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in recognition of their common objectives for the better management of aquatic environments and fisheries and the conservation of native fish species. The Statement of Intent will be formally launched by both parties at the joint RAFTS and Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB) 2012 Conference being held at SNH’s Battleby Centre on Thursday March 29.

The joint statement re-affirms each organisation’s appreciation of the other’s interests, recognises the benefits of the public and private sectors forming strong and effective partnerships and details arrangements for future liaison and co-operation. It recognises that RAFTS’ research, advice and capacity to co-ordinate and deliver projects is now well proven and that Fishery Trusts are set to play an increasingly important role in securing the future of Scotland’s rivers and lochs and the diverse flora and fauna that they support. Continue reading →

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The important contribution and role of Fishery Boards and Fishery Trusts in the management of Scotland’s freshwater fisheries is highlighted in a new factsheet published today by the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB) and the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS).

Dr Alan Wells, Policy and Planning Director of ASFB, said: “The new factsheet underlines the vital role that District Salmon Fishery Boards, working in partnership with Fishery Trusts, play in managing our rivers and lochs. Not only do Boards manage virtually all of Scotland’s salmon and sea trout fisheries, they do so at no cost to the public purse – Boards are principally financed by fishery owners to the tune of £4.38m. Boards have powers to appoint water bailiffs to enforce salmon fisheries legislation in Scotland. Over 300 water bailiffs who are in the frontline in enforcing Scotland’s salmon fisheries legislation have successfully undergone formal accreditation and they play a vital role, in partnership with Police wildlife crime officers, in tackling the illegal killing of wild salmon and sea trout.” Continue reading →

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Scotland’s leading wild fishery organisations, the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB) and the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS), have re-iterated their opposition to the continuing presence of feral beavers in Tayside. This follows today’s announcement (on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today programme) by Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, that he will not – at this time – sanction their removal.

Dr Alan Wells, Policy and Planning Director for ASFB, said: “As the Minister has accepted, the beavers in Tayside have been introduced or released irresponsibly, and almost certainly illegally, in contravention of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines for species introductions. It is highly regrettable that these animals – of unknown origin and disease status – were not removed as soon as their presence was identified”. Continue reading →

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The 2012 Annual Bailiffs Conference, held on March 13 and 14 at Aviemore, was testimony to the increasing co-operation between river bailiffs and the police in tackling wildlife crime. The agenda included five presentations from police wildlife crime officers aimed at enhancing the skills of bailiffs in gathering evidence in pursuit of prosecutions for salmon poaching, as well as presentations on thermal imaging cameras and Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR) Licensing

Roger Knight, Director of the Spey District Salmon Fishery Board (hosts of this year’s conference), said: “Here in the Spey District we are fortunate to have excellent relations with both Grampian Police and Northern Constabulary. The conference has drawn on these close links in order to improve the professional capabilities of water bailiffs throughout Scotland, who are on the frontline in terms of protecting and conserving our iconic migratory fish stocks. High standards in areas such as intelligence handling and surveillance are vital if we are to maximise the number of successful prosecutions brought against salmon poaching criminals”. Continue reading →

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THE Atlantic Salmon’s amazing ability to navigate thousands of miles of open ocean, and leap formidable waterfalls on its return journey to the place it was born, has justifiably earned it the title of ‘king of fish’.

And BBC ALBA’s popular fishing series Turas a’Bhradain: The Salmon’s Journey offers viewers a visual feast with stunning footage and returns with the very latest news from rivers and coastlines around Scotland, including the South Esk in Angus, Loch Lomond on the Firth of Clyde, the waters of the Uists and various rivers in Argyll.

Returning with presenter and keen angler, Neen Mackay, viewers are taken on a journey of discovering charting some of the most accessible salmon fishing available in Scotland.

Produced by STV for BBC ALBA, Turas a’Bhradain will start next Tuesday March 13th at 8.30pm.

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Stornoway Gazette

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Physical marking of farmed salmon and DNA tracing will now be tested as a combined method to find out if a given salmon in the sea or river is an escaped farmed salmon and, if so, which fish farm it comes from.

Spotting the difference between an escaped farmed salmon and a wild salmon is not always easy. But physical marking, such as clipping the adipose fin, freeze branding or colour marking of all farmed salmon, will show whether a salmon has escaped or not, without using time and money on DNA testing.

“The aim is that we can quickly and with a high level of certainty trace escaped farmed salmon back to their owner or the company responsible,” says Matt Baranski, Scientist at the food research institute Nofima Mat, the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research.

In order to go to the fish farm where the farmed salmon is from, it is necessary to make a detour via the genes of the salmon’s parents.

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Fish Information & Services

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THE Salmon fishing seasons are now open on both the Cree and Bladnoch – the two Galloway rivers that still support an early running component to their salmon stock.

And as always, anglers are being urged to return all salmon caught up until the first of June and this practice has been made mandatory on the River Cree this season.

Galloway Fisheries Trust will be supporting anglers’ efforts by rewarding them with a side of smoked salmon as a joint collaboration with Pinneys of Scotland (Part of the Seafood Company) who have been sponsoring the rewards scheme for the last eight years.

Increased effort has been made in recent years towards protecting valuable spring salmon stocks.

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The Galloway Gazette

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SALMON catches have been leaping on the River Annan and for Annan’s poke netters.

Figures for 2011 show that fishermen had one of their best seasons for a number of years, almost doubling the number of salmon, weighing in at 258.8kg, caught in 2010 on the Solway mouth of the River Annan.

It follows a steady decline in salmon catches over recent years with 53 caught by poke netters and 81 by haaf netters – the ancient and traditional fishing methods of the Solway.

However, sea trout figures during 2011 took a dip. No sea trout were caught by poke netters in 2011 and only 57 were caught by haaf netters, compared to 139 in 2010. They mainly fished in June, July and August. This remains consistently as low as those for 2006 to 2009 seasons – down by 30 per cent on the previous 10 years figures.

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Dumfries & Galloway Standard

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For a number of years, RAFTS has convened its annual conference in the Spring to discuss matters of interest to its members. In 2012, for the first time, and in recognition of the close working relationship between the two organisations, the conference will be jointly convened by RAFTS and ASFB.

The conference, entitled ‘Taking Practical Action in Straitened Times: Protecting, Managing and Promoting Scotland’s Rivers’, will take place on Thursday 29 March 2012 at The Battleby Institute, near Perth. There will be four sessions covering the policy and legislative context for fisheries management, genetics and its management applications, practical management and mitigation, and promoting access and use of fisheries . Full details can be found in the conference programme.

Please visit http://www.rafts.org.uk/annual-conference/ or http://www.asfb.org.uk/conferences/ to book your place.

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