About Us

The Argyll Fisheries Trust is a registered charity that was first formed in 1995 as the Awe Fisheries Trust. Since 1995 the Trust has expanded its work to encompass Argyll and the islands and is now known as the Argyll Fisheries Trust.

The main objectives of the Trust are:

• Understand the composition of all fish populations, distribution and trends in abundance.
• Identify, protect and improve wild fish populations throughout the Argyll area and the islands.
• Understand, protect and enhance the physical environment for fish.
• Educate all sectors of the community on their role in caring for the freshwater environment.

The Argyll Fisheries Trust consists of 3 full time staff, a part time administrator and a board of directors.

Full time Staff

Alan Kettle-White (Senior Fisheries Biologist)
Alan is from Reading, England. He graduated from the Sparsholt College in 1997, with a BSc Hons Aquaculture and Fisheries Management. Before joining AFT in 1998, Alan had previously worked for the Environment Agency in England. He was promoted to senior fisheries biologist in 1999 and has led the trust to many of its achievements to date. His main interests are restoration and genetics projects.
Email Alan

Alistair Lamont (Fisheries Biologist)
Alistair is originally from Neilston, outside Glasgow. He graduated with BSc Hons Environmental Biology from the University of Paisley in 2006. Having previously worked voluntarily for the Argyll Fisheries Trust in 2006, he joined the AFT in 2007. His main interests are freshwater habitat related issues and habitat enhancement techniques.
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Lucy Fry (Regional Development Officer)
Lucy is originally from Adelaide, Australia. Having studied at the University of Tasmania, she graduated with BSc Hons Aquaculture in 2004. Having worked in the aquaculture industry in Tasmania, she furthered her career with Landcatch in Scotland, before joining AFT in 2006. Lucy's main responsibilities are administering and developing Area Management Agreements with the aquaculture industry and promoting wild fish in both Argyll and Lochaber.
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Jane Wright (Part-time Executive Director)
Jane has represented the wild fish sector in various roles throughout the last 15 years and has recently relinquished her role as chair of the AFT Directors to help manage and co-ordinate the Trust's activities on a part-time basis.

Moira Bernard (Administrator). Moira works part-time with both the Trust and the Argyll District Salmon Fishery Board, handling accounts and administration.

Board of Directors

Richard McKenzie (Chairmen)
Jim Stephenson (Treasurer)
Andrew Montgomery (Company Secretary)
Roger Brook (Argyll District Salmon Fishery Board, Awe District River Improvement Association, Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland)
Jonny Delap (Loch Fyne District River Improvement Association)
Derek Smith (Scottish Federation of Coarse Anglers)
Dr Kenny Black (SAMS)
Andrew Bowden-Smith (Caledonian Trout Company)
Prof John Blaxter (SAMS - Retired)
David Milburn (River Orchy and fieldwork assistance)
David Stewart (Creran River Improvement Association)

Working Remit

AFT works with a range of partners and stakeholders including statutory bodies, non-governmental organisations, resource users and owners to achieve the Trust's mission. It also works in both local freshwater and marine habitats to complement and inform the wider management of Scotland's native fish populations.

Within the fishery management sector, the Trust works with a number of local River and Loch Improvement Associations, focusing on specific issues and also at a regional level with the Argyll District Salmon Fishery Board. At a national level AFT is a member of the Rivers & Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) The Trust's work programme is guided by the protocols developed by the Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre. Some aspects of the Trust's work are also guided by other government authorities such as the Freshwater Research Service. Argyll District Salmon Fisheries Board is part of the Association of Salmon Fisheries Boards.

The Trust's work is funded by a range of organisations and individuals who have an interest in Argyll's aquatic environment. Increasingly, our activities are moving towards research and monitoring projects whose outcomes provide practical advice on fisheries management. Project partnerships include the wild fisheries and aquaculture sectors, renewable energy developers, local and national authorities and other charitable organisations. The Trust also undertakes a limited amount of contract based work, usually in relation to consultations on potential developments of renewable energy schemes, engineering, forestry and fish farms.