Spring into action

Daffodils around the office (S. Marshall)

As the days get longer and the daffodils brighten the area, we're wrapping up the winter work. We've finished the reports from the 2015 season, and have the Annual Review almost ready to go to the printers. Electrofishing results highlighted the good spawning season witnessed at the end of 2014, with good numbers of fry seen at many of the sites. Reports on the 2015 Electrofishing Surveys and Monitoring of sea trout post-smolts, 2015 are available on the website, while the Annual review will be added in the next couple of weeks. http://home.btconnect.com/wsft/page32.html

The Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016 have now been published and can be viewed here http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/115/contents/made. This sets out requirements for the catch and release of salmon within Scotland, based on an assessment of the conservation status of each district, and calculated from reported rod catch. Within this area the North & West District Salmon Fisheries Board have produced a map showing the catchments, and their conservation status. This can be viewed here http://home.btconnect.com/wsft/Poster%20Version%203b.pdf, but in summary - it is mandatory catch and release on all catchments between Cape Wrath and the Point of Stoer, business as usual between Cape Wrath and Smoo Cave , while all other areas must see an increase in the number of fish returned. A Conservation Plan must also be produced for each district.

The Wild Fisheries Reform continues to be developed by Scottish Government, with the publication of the Draft provisions for a Wild Fisheries (Scotland) Bill/Draft Wild Fisheries Strategy: a consultation. The closing date for this consultation is 2nd May, and it is important that as many as possible have their say in this major restructuring of the wild fisheries sector within Scotland. The Trust is developing a response at the present moment aiming to set out our vision for the future, within the proposed framework.

Processing the fish (M. Rose)

On a more enjoyable subject, spring saw the start of the netting season, with 2 completed for the Laxford already this year. It was great to blow away the cobwebs, get together with old friends and see some lovely fish - and not a single sea louse to be found. Unfortunately we've both managed to get wet already - leaky waders and deep water respectively - which is perhaps the less enjoyable aspect of the work! Still, rough with the smooth and all that.... Hopefully we'll get out on the Polla and Kyle of Durness before too long, and see some more old friends. If you would like to help with the netting then please come along. You can contact us (wsft@btconnect.com) for further details or to confirm that we've not been rained off. We also advertise the dates and times on the Website if that's easier (http://home.btconnect.com/wsft/index.html).

Sorting the fish (M. Rose)

With the help of our many volunteers, we continue to monitor mink within the area. Unfortunately the funding for this project has ended, so we're being particularly careful with equipment. However our volunteers are fabulous and the network continues to be covered. Thankfully, there have once again been no mink found, although prints were seen and traps installed. The area remains relatively mink free and we hope to keep it that way.

There was a hope that the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) would have started by now, or at least be in the final preparation stage. This project is being developed by RAFTS, across a large swathe of Scotland, to manage invasive species within the area through a mix of citizen science and biologist input. Unfortunately the submission date for the project has been delayed as a result of problems with match funding, with submission for funding likely to be in November.

Saturday 16 April will see us attend the Highland Environment Fair at the New Campus, Inverness College. We have a stall - along with a few other Trusts - and will be in the 'fishy' corner. Adam is also giving a talk in the morning, all about the sweep netting. It looks like being a really good day, so if you're in Inverness and looking for something to do why not come along and join us?

As with most charities, the Trust continues to struggle for funding. We have registered with Easyfundraising as a way of raising some additional money. However, this requires your help. If you shop online and would like to raise FREE money for the Trust then its a simply process. There are 1000's of companies taking part in the scheme, which sees a proportion of any purchase you make going to the Trust - it doesn't change what you pay, only costing you an extra 'click' as you go to the retailer through the easyfundraising site. We will then receive the donation from the retailer. This is a simple way to help and FREE to you- so please register and start shopping.  https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/westsutherlandfisheriestrust