Association of Salmon Boards Newsletters

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The latest Association of Salmon Fishery Board's Newsletter can be read below or follow this link to read all the detail as well

www.asfb.org.uk/newsletters

February 2012

Welcome to the first ASFB-RAFTS newsletter of the year. 2012 promises to be an interesting year in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, which is due to be introduced to Parliament later this year. In addition, Edinburgh will host three major fisheries meetings: the 6th World Fisheries Conference in May; the 29th Annual Meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) in June; and the Institute of Fisheries Management Conference in October. The main event for 2012 is the RAFTS-ASFB Conference on 29th March..

The conference will be opened by Ian Jardine, SNH Chief Executive, and other topic include the consultation on the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, and the latest on genetics, angling promotion and practical projects. Further details and booking information can be found here.
Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested. You can sign up to receive this newsletter at www.asfb.org.uk/newsletter or http://www.rafts.org.uk/newsletter
You can also follow us on Twitter: @asfb_scotland or @rafts_scotland and on Facebook.

ASFB & RAFTS Activity

•   Alan Wells, Callum Sinclair, Roger Brook and Andrew Wallace (alongside S&TA) have attended the first meetings involving wild and farmed fish interest groups. Further substantive meetings are planned during the first quarter of 2012.

ASFB

•   Alan Wells attended the River Basin Management Planning National Advisory Group, which included an update on development of a restoration strategy for Scotland, urban diffuse pollution, a review of the remit of the group, a discussion on engagement in the development of the second river basin plan and an update on Scotland's Land Use Strategy.
•   Brian Davidson met with National Wildlife Crime Unit Intelligence officers to discuss the development of an intelligence-gathering protocol for DSFBs and local police forces. This is underway.
•   Alan Wells visited the Annan and Nith DSFBs to learn more about the local issues and priorities for these Boards.
•   Alan Wells met with Marine Scotland to discuss the Scottish Government's approach to Mixed Stock Fisheries.
•   Alan Wells attended the Improved Systems for Licensing Aquaculture Development working group – part of the Ministerial Group on Aquaculture. Discussion included: Local Authority development plans and the wider planning system; Audit and Reviews (the process by which existing Crown Estate development consents are subsequently consented for planning permission); and an update on the Scottish Government consultation on extension of permitted development rights for aquaculture.
•   Alan Wells met with SEPA to discuss the forthcoming restoration strategy.
•   Alan Wells attended a meeting with the developers of the Forth Array wild farm alongside representatives of several East coast rivers.
•   Brian Davidson has facilitated a number of joint initiatives through the close working relationship  between ASFB and IFM. These focus mainly on the provision of training within the national bailiff network and include:
o   the publication of a revised version of the Bailiff Training Manual. This is the core learning material for the Bailiff Training Module, run by IFM, and a minimum entry level standard qualification for those who wish to be formally appointed as water bailiffs in Scotland. A copy of the new manual may be viewed at the enforcement page of the ASFB website.
o   The production of a standardised Water bailiff notebook to support the recording and submission of offence reports. This has been made available to all bailiffs throughout Scotland.
o   6 regional bailiff examinations were convened on 6 December, and 29 candidates sat this round of examinations. The next examination will be held on 13 March 2012.
RAFTS
•   EuroPA is a public affairs bulletin, providing the latest progress on the INTERREG and PEACE funding programmes (both supported by the European Regional Development Fund). INTERREG supports valuable work on biosecurity and invasive non-native species in Scotland and Ireland, through  CIRB,  a collaborative project between RAFTS and the Central Fisheries Board in Ireland
•   Biosecurity Planning within the RAFTS programme present local actions for the selected Invasive Non Native Species that implement the key elements of the two key UK and Scottish Government policies and strategies relevant to non-native species. All finalised Trust plans can be viewed on the RAFTS website. Two new plans have been issued for public consultation:
o   The Findhorn, Nairn & Lossie Trust have published their biosecurity plan for consultation .  This plan is available for comment until 29 February 2012.
o   The Skye Fisheries Trust have published their biosecurity plan for consultation.  This plan is available for comment until 29 February 2012.
•   Scottish Mink Initiative Scottish Mink Initiative (SMI) is part of the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland Biosecurity and Invasive Non Native Species Programme.
•   The annual gathering of the SFCC/RAFTS Biologist network took place on 25-26 January in Pitlochry, hosted by Marine Scotland Science Freshwater Laboratory. This is a great chance for biologists to meet, chat and present some of their project and other work to each other. Special thanks to James Orpwood (SFCC) and Bob Laughton for making the arrangements for this meeting.

Latest News

AST auction (2 February 2012)

The annual auction is the Atlantic Salmon Trust's principal fund raising event. In addition to funding the AST's priority research projects, some funds from the auction may go towards salmon and sea trout projects jointly funded by AST, RAFTS (Rivers & Fisheries Trusts of Scotland) and ART (Association of Rivers Trusts)

River Crime Initiative Launched (1 February 2012)

With the salmon fishing season about to commence on all of Grampian's rivers over the next few weeks, a new initiative has been launched to raise awareness of the potential impact of wildlife crime on the region's waterways – Read more here

http://www.asfb.org.uk/river-crime-initiative-launched

Dee Opening/ Season Extension (1 February 2012)

The start of the 2012 salmon fishing season on the River Dee will be celebrated on Wednesday February 1st with an official opening ceremony on the riverbank by Potarch Bridge. Actor, writer, comedian and regular Dee fisher Paul Whitehouse was  the guest of honour

River Annan – Fishing News (1 February 2012)

For many years Nick Chisholm has organised informal fishing events on the Annan.  These events are great fun for the participants, but also allow the Annan Trust to get some good data on the performance of the fishery

River Don News (1 February 2012)

The River Don Trust have commissioned a beautiful River Don Map, and all proceeds from sales will be donated  to the Trust from 2012 onwards 

Warning over Northern Ireland salmon population (17 January 2012)

Netting for salmon around the coast of Northern Ireland could be having a potentially serious effect on the breeding population –

Season opening on the River Tay, the home of good value salmon angling (16 January 2012)

Steve Lomas, Manager of St Johnstone FC and former Manchester City, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers and Northern Ireland midfielder, opened the salmon fishing season on the Tay at Dunkeld House today

River Dee Trust – 2012 Auction (14 January 2012)

The River Dee Trust is holding a sealed bids auction to raise funds to support its work on the River Dee. The auction offers some exclusive international fishing as well as first class artwork as lots

Concerns raised about proposed hydro scheme (28 December 2011)

Concerns have been raised by the Tay District Salmon Fishery Board about the potential impact of a proposed run of river hydro scheme.  These concerns relate to the potential impact on salmon spawning grounds and angling on a popular beat on the River Isla.

Hatcheries may change salmonid genetics after single generation (23 December 2011)

Recent findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that the impact of hatcheries on salmonids is so profound that in just one generation traits are selected that allow fish to survive and prosper in the hatchery environment, at the cost of their ability to thrive and reproduce in a wild environment

River Tweed – analysis of diseased autumn salmon (22 December 2011)

Large numbers of diseased salmon were present on Tweed in autumn 2011, and further to the Diseased Salmon in autumn article published on River Tweed News in mid November, The Tweed Foundation sent some samples for analysis
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Conon Restoration – River Orrin (22 December 2011)

A major restoration project on the River Orrin (tributary of the River Conon) has maximised optimum habitat for salmon using a variety of means, including the clearing of spawning side streams and clearance of rhododendron

SFCC online angling diary (22 December 2011)

Angling diaries have traditionally been used by a small number of dedicated anglers to record their angling experiences. These records can, however, also provide Fisheries Biologists with a precious insight into fishing practices and in some cases the numbers and sizes of fish that were caught, often over a long period of time

Angling club lodges legal complaint with Europe (20 December 2011)

In an unprecedented move Brechin Angling Club (Brechin AC), supported by the Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA), has submitted a formal complaint to the European Commission over the Scottish Government's failure to protect salmon stocks in the River South Esk Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Salmon's place in ecosystems "must be fully recognised" (17 December 2011)

Research on the marine life of salmon must continue, despite funding challenges, a conference has been told

2011 winner of Scotland's most prestigious angling award (13 December 2011)

The Chairman of the Tay Foundation, owners of the Savills Malloch Trophy – for the largest salmon caught on the fly and safely returned during the year in Scottish waters – is delighted to announce that this year's winner is Sam Valentine for a fish of 34.5 lb landed on the River Nith

Consultation on Aquaculture & Fisheries Bill Announced (12 December 2011)

A consultation on the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill was announced today

ASFB and RAFTS call for a greater focus on climate change adaptation strategies for salmon and sea trout (11 December 2011)

As widely predicted the Durban UN Conference on Climate Change (COP17) has failed to reach a legally-binding global agreement on pollution, with talks on a new legal deal not due to end until 2015 and with a further delay until 2020 before the implementation of any agreed emission limits

River Thurso "mothballs" hatchery (1 December 2011)

The proprietors and management of the Thurso have opted not to operate the river's hatchery this winter as they believe that stocking next spring will be superfluous (normally between 150,000 and 300,000 fry of hatchery origin are planted out annually)

Changes at Ayrshire Rivers Trust (30 November 2011)

Brian Shaw, who has led Ayrshire Rivers Trust (ART) for the past seven years will sadly be leaving at the end of December. This is a great blow to ART where he has been the inspiration for a multitude of new ideas and has overseen substantial growth in our activities

Stewart Stevenson visits River Don (30 November 2011)

RAFTS met with the Environment Minister, hosted by the River Don Trust, to present discuss the work of fisheries trusts and RAFTS. This was a great opportunity to, in particular, highlight the impact the fishery management and biosecurity management planning initiatives have made to the work of the River Don Trust and the wider trust network.  A visit to a local primary school gave a great end to the visit and showed the great work being done there to promote the salmon and freshwater environments

SEweb: gateway to Scotland's environment (28 November 2011)

For the first time, everything you want to know about Scotland's environment will now be available at the touch of a button –

New rules on Forth and Teith (18 November 2011)

From February anglers will have to adhere to strict new catch-and-release rules on council beats on the Forth and Teith before June 1. Stirling Council's regulatory functions panel agreed three new conditions to fisheries rules in an effort to stop the decline of spring salmon and sea trout after recommendations from the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board

ASFB Annual General Meeting 2011 (18 November 2011)

The Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB) held its Annual General Meeting at Perth Racecourse on 15th November. Alan Wells, Policy and Planning Director of ASFB, and Brian Davidson, Operations Director of ASFB, detailed the refinement of policy and developments in a political context in a number of policy areas, including aquaculture, mixed stocks fisheries and renewables –

Events
•   Scottish Mink Initiative – Training Day at Loch of the Lowes – More Details
•   13-14 March – Annual Bailiffs Seminar – More Details
•   29 March – RAFTS and ASFB Conference – More Details
•   19 April – River Restoration Centre: 13th Annual Network Conference –

Publications (ASFB/RAFTS)
•   Wild fisheries response to the informal consultation on the NE Coast Review of the Net Limitation Order (Jan 2012) (pdf)
•   RAFTS-ASFB Submission to Woodland Expansion Advisory Group (Jan 2012) (pdf)
•   ASFB response to Loch Ewe Aquaculture Framework Plan (Dec 2011) (pdf)
•   RAFTS response to Loch Ewe Aquaculture Framework Plan (Dec 2011) (pdf)
•   ASFB-RAFTS response to Outer Hebrides draft supplementary guidance on fish farming (Nov 2011) (pdf)
Publications (other)
•   River Dee Annual Report 2011 (pdf)
•   Scottish Mink Initiative Newsletter (pdf)
•   Findhorn Nairn & Lossie Fisheries Trust Newsletter (Dec 2011) (pdf)
•   Tay District Salmon Fishery Board Annual Report 2011 (pdf)
•   Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust Newsletter (Autumn 2011) (pdf)
•   ASFB Guidance on Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries legislation and offences (Nov 2011) (pdf)
Vacancies
•   Mink Control Officer – More Details.


To view this newsletter in pdf format with all the links in place to read further detail  please visit:
www.asfb.org.uk/newslettersor www.rafts.org.uk/newsletters

ASFB-RAFTS | CBC House | 24 Canning Street | Edinburgh | EH3 8EG
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