Current Issues
RAFTS Invasive non-native species and Biosecurity Programme.
Invasive non native species and fish diseases damage our environment, the economy, our health and the way we live. They already cost the Scottish economy and therefore us upwards of £500 million per year and the UK economy £2-£6 billion per year. The expansion of world trade and the tourism market to include more destinations coupled with the impacts of climate change have led to the increased introduction, establishment and spread of invasive non native species and fish diseases in Scotland and the UK. If nothing is done the costs to our environment, economy and health will only increase. We need your support to increase awareness and better understanding of Invasive Non Native Species and Biosecurity issues and impacts and what can be done about them.
More details can be found on the RAFTS website.
Moray Firth Sea Trout Project
The Moray Firth Sea Trout Project is now under way and Marcus Walters has been employed as the full time Project Officer. This is a collaborative project, combining the efforts of river Boards and Fishery Trusts and many angling associations within the Moray Firth catchments. The project aims to address the imbalances in sea trout management, collate existing information on sea trout stocks and identify where further data is required to facilitate improved management practices.
In the past the Deveron has been a very important river providing in some years more than 25% of all rod caught sea trout in the Moray Firth.However, in the past five years, catches have been particularly poor with the 2007 rod catch (593 sea trout) being 59% below the ten year average (1992 -2001).
Marcus is aiming to reverse this trend by researching the rivers around the Moray Firth, examining possible reasons behind the decline and creating mangement plans to redress the situation. He will be contacting all angling associations, ghillies and proprietors who may have useful historical records on sea trout and long standing experience of how sea trout numbers have declined locally.
Keep Gyrodactylus salaris out of Scottish rivers
What is Gyrodactylus salaris ?
Gyrodactylus salaris is a parasite which does kill salmon.
How dangerous is it ?
In some Norwegian rivers infested with the parasite salmon stocks have been lost forever. Therefore, it is essential that this parasite is not introduced to the British Isles.
How might it get here ?
The parasite is very hardy, capable of surviving long periods in fishing gear. It is possible that a single specimen, imported by accident, would be capable of starting an epidemic in this country.
What can you do ?
Anglers must take special steps to ensure that their equipment is not contaminated. Anglers travelling from areas which are not designated as free of Gyrodactylus salaris should take precautions. All fishing equipment should be thoroughly cleaned, then treated, to kill any parasites by either :
- drying at a minimum of 20 degrees C for two days
- heating for an hour at 60 degrees C
- deep freezing for a day
- immersion in a solution suitable for killing Gyrodactylus salaris for 10 minutes. Chemical solutions recommended are Virkon (1%), sodiuum chloride (3%), sodium hydroxide (0.2%).
Before fishing the rivers you should complete an Anglers Declaration relating to the cleanliness of your tackle. The form can be downloaded here.
You should obtain a valid certificate from the relevant fish health regulatory authority in the country of origin or at the point of entry in GB.
Information on the Code of Practice for Gyrodactylus salaris and a link to download a copy can be seen here.
For more information, contact : Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, PO Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB. Telephone 01224 876544. www.marlab.ac.uk
Water Directive
When the UK joined the EU, policies, regulations and directives have come to have a direct bearing on rural life.
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) will have major implications for farmers and the rural community. The Directive came into operation in December 2000 and it's implementation will change the way water and river systems are managed and how they are viewed and protected. Recent statements by the Scottish Executive underline the importance for farming and the rural community; 'The scope of the WFD is not restricted to lochs, rivers or coastal waters - it requires consideration from any human intervention which might affect the quality of water'. The directive is not just aimed at water bodies but to any activity which will affect the quality of water.
The aims of the WFD are:
- To ensure that waters and activities are managed and controlled in a co-ordinated way.
- Ensure that statutory requirements achieve ecological targets.
- The restoration and protection of wetlands.
- Management of river basins - the area of land from which all water flows towards the sea
The river basins are the rock on which the new system will be built. Catchment management is seen as an essential principle of the directive. Successful management will be monitored by observing plants and animals which live in the natural waters - they will be the key indicators of maintaining ecological status. The task of implementing the directive will fall into the hands of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency consulting with SNH, local authorities, district salmon fishery boards, the Forest Authority and the community.
The costs of implementing this massive task in Scotland alone amounts to between £0.8bn and £1bn and the last date by which 'good status' is to be achieved is December 2027.
Benefits will be an improvement in the quality of water, recreation, angling and general amenity.
RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
News Release
February 9, 2009
MARINE SCOTLAND TO MANAGE SUSTAINABLE SEAS FOR ALL
A new marine management body is being created to help Scotland make the most of its seas for future generations.
Marine Scotland, which will be up and running by April 1, will play a key role in managing Scotland’s seas, with direct responsibility for marine science, planning, policy development, management and compliance monitoring measures.
It will work with other partners with marine interests to deliver economic prosperity – including in developing areas such as marine renewables - and environmental sustainability.
Marine Scotland offers better protection to Scotland’s marine environment and will help streamline existing support services. It will deliver a simplified management and regulating system for all marine activities in Scotland.
The current functions of Fisheries Research Services (FRS), the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) and the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate will be brought together in the new organisation, which will work with others to ensure sustainable economic growth from our marine and coastal environments.
It will build on the success of these organisations to deliver a strategic approach to managing Scotland’s seas. A Marine Strategy Board, led by Marine Scotland and involving key partners with marine management interests, will be established to deliver a coherent and focused approach. Marine Scotland will become a Scottish Government Directorate.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said:
“We have been clear from day one that our underlying key purpose is that of sustainable economic growth".
“The creation of Marine Scotland will help deliver this vision, managing Scotland’s seas for prosperity and environmental sustainability. Marine Scotland will be the champion for our marine environment".
“We have a unique coastal and marine environment which provides an important natural resource upon which so many communities depend. Our waters are vital to the Scottish economy and support many thousands of jobs, most notably through the oil and gas industry, aquaculture and fishing".
“Coastal tourism and internationally significant species attract wildlife enthusiasts from around the world. Marine Scotland will combine and co-ordinate the efforts of existing bodies, to ensure we manage Scotland’s seas sustainably and benefit from the rich assets and resources they represent".
“The Scottish Government will shortly bring forward a Marine Bill that will provide a sustainable future for our waters, and build on existing arrangements to provide the foundations for Marine Scotland’s work.”
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. Marine Scotland will have direct responsibility for core marine functions, which include both the existing functions of the Marine Directorate, FRS (Marine and Freshwater Fisheries), and SFPA, and also planned new functions of marine planning, improved nature conservation measures and better integrated licensing, consents and monitoring arrangements. It will also ensure that the action of all public sector bodies is aligned with Scottish Government’s vision on marine issues.
2. In 2007 the Scottish Parliament’s Environment and Rural Development Committee called for steps towards a single integrated regulatory system for all marine activities in Scotland. In the same year the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy recommended that there should be a Scottish Marine Management Organisation with a remit of national co-ordination of integrated coastal zone management and marine spatial planning delivery.
3. As part of the Scottish Government’s simplification programme, announced in January 2008, the First Minister announced that we would bring together marine management functions from across public organisations, into a single body, to better protect Scotland’s marine environment and streamline services which support this vital Scottish industry.
4. The recent (July-October 2008) public consultation on a Scottish Marine Bill has shown strong support for improved marine management arrangements and establishment of a new, integrated body to champion Scotland’s seas. Over 80 per cent of those who responded to this issue in the consultation process agreed with proposals to establish Marine Scotland. The largest group to express a view favoured Marine Scotland being established as part of Scottish Government. This has the advantage of enabling coherent management of the seas with integration of policy alongside delivery functions.