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AFT Activities - Freshwater Surveys

Juvenile salmonid fish

AFT has undertaken a programme of electrofishing surveys across the region to investigate the distribution and abundance of juvenile salmon and trout. The surveys are undertaken using protocols developed by the Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre (SFCC) allowing comparisons to be made between survey sites and between years. Data collected from electrofishing and habitat surveys is used to inform local managers of the status of the resource. To date, these surveys have detected a wide variation in fish abundance in different rivers, identified barriers to fish migration and highlighted where restoration activities are required. As well as salmonid fish, electrofishing is also used to collect information on other species such as lamprey, eels, stickleback and other non-native species.

Adult salmonid fish

Snorkel surveys have been undertaken on a number of priority rivers where numbers are thought to be very low, providing managers with up-to-date information on the numbers of adult salmon returning to spawn. These surveys have also identified escapee farmed salmon and potential brood-fish for use in hatchery support programmes. The surveys are undertaken during the autumn, prior to the spawning season and while the method is relatively new and can only be used in clear running rivers during low flows, it is providing valuable data to inform restoration programmes.

Redd counts

In recent years, the AFT has collaborated with the Atlantic Salmon Trust biologist to provide training on the identification and counting of salmon and trout redds to local volunteers. Identification of nesting sites is an important part of understanding the distribution of spawning activity within catchments. This can inform further juvenile fish survey work (electrofishing) and the planting of hatchery reared fry to avoid competition with juveniles that have spawned in the wild.

Fish habitat

Surveys of fish habitat are designed to collect information on the status of the in-stream substrates and flow types as well as the bankside vegetation using SFCC protocols. Such surveys prove useful in identifying the many potential factors that can limit the recruitment of juvenile fish including barriers to fish passage, degraded habitats and pollution points.

Other fish

AFT regularly collects information on other fish species as part of our routine monitoring of juvenile salmonids and specialist surveys for lamprey have also been undertaken as part of the National Lamprey Survey.

AFT Activities - Management Planning

Improvements in the way we manage our resource are essential if we are to prevent further declines in fisheries. AFT is collaborating with a number of organisations to develop long-term strategic management and restoration plans for all catchments in Argyll. Plans for priority catchments are already underway.

AFT Activities - Marine surveys - Sea trout sampling

As part of the Area Management Agreement initiative, the AFT undertakes surveys of post-smolt sea trout in local sea lochs to monitor sea lice burdens. With support from the TWG, three or four surveys are undertaken at a network of sites across the region (Loch Creran, Loch Linnhe, Firth of Lorn, Loch na Keal (Mull), Loch Feochan, West Loch Tarbert, Loch Fyne, Kintyre, Kyles of Bute and on the Isle of Arran). The resulting data is used to inform the local Area Management Group on the development of lice control initiatives undertaken by fish farmers.