Laxford Netting...16/04/2011

Netting went well, a very good sweep resulting in the capture of 283 Sea Trout of varying sizes. Kelts seemed to be mending well compared to last year, lots of Smolts and Post Smolts. Very few lice found with most fish being clean.
One fish in paricular was interesting, it appears it had no evidence of ever possessing an adipose fin. We have'nt seen this before and makes you wonder what purpose the adipose fin actually serves.

Smolt trappin has started on one of our small streams, although this has been slow, it is hoped things will pick up over the coming weeks. All fish will be measured, scale and genetic samples taken also.

Preparations are underway for elver and eel monitoring. Six catchments will be monitored over the coming weeks and it is hoped to get an idea of elver recruitment within the area. This also adds to the current project ( in its final year) looking at all stages within a particular catchment. Details can be found on our website...www.wsft.co.uk

Chris

Barrier/Obstacle Assessment Course completed.

WFD111(2a) Coarse resolution rapid assessment methodology to assess obstacles to migration. I attended this course on April 5/6/7 th 2011. Held at the SEPA offices in Perth. A really interesting and informative course which will prove extremely useful in assessing the various obstacles within our area. It certainly made me look at these issues in a completely different light, their complexities when looked at closely illustrate the often extreme difficulties fish have to endure to reach their goal. Although some may be time consuming to assess, once broken down and the order of assessment followed, a detailed idea of the obstacle and an idea of possible pathways for fish to pass the obstacle can be ascertained. This does not only cover salmonid species but all species/guilds and so may have further implications with regard to biosecurity where undesirable species need to be stopped. The course started with a brief introduction and a run through of issues and the protocol. This was followed in the afternoon by a field visit and a short practical session involving techniques and equipment use...a taster. The second day was spent in the office, with an in depth look at the actual protocol, and why we do it. The Third day was spent out in the field where we were split into two groups and assessed a number of man made structures of varying complexity and under different conditions. At the end of the assessment each obstacle is then given a passability score and it is often possible to ascertain which factor may impede fish migration, this could be depth, velocity, height etc. So a lot of data/information can be gathered from each structure. All in all a very good course and thoroughly recommended........Chris