Fresh Water Issues

Argyll Fisheries Trust is working with a number of stake holders to reduce the impact of our use of land and freshwater resources on aquatic habitats:

Land use

Forestry

Coniferous forestry is a major land use in the Argyll region, and often has a significant impact on adjacent watercourses. Land drainage, construction of roads and clear felling can significantly impact the quantity and quality of freshwater habitats available for fish recruitment. While many aspects of forestry operations are governed by the Forest and Water Guidelines (pdf), the Trust is working with the Forestry Commission and other forestry operators to raise awareness of fish and fisheries issues and to ensure that more emphasis is put on protecting and restoring fresh water habitats.

Agriculture

Livestock grazing is also a major land use throughout most of Argyll. Grazing of unprotected river banks by livestock can result in trampling of river banks and widening of the river channel. Intensive grazing reduces bankside cover and vegetation diversity, in turn affecting productivity of aquatic habitats. AFT seeks to work with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and farmers to encourage stock exclusion from sensitive riparian zones and promote to biodiversity.

Engineering Works

Alterations to natural river channels, such as straightening and dredging are usually undertaken to improve land drainage by forestry and farming interests. Gravel abstraction can also degrade habitat quality. Many of Argyll's native fish species require access to a range of different habitats to complete their life cycle. Man-made obstructions such as weirs, bridge aprons and culverts can impede fish access, impinging on recruitment of juveniles and reducing the overall abundance of fish. Although these and other in-river works are now covered by the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR), raising awareness of such issues with land users and the relevant authorities is an important part of the Trust's work.

Water Resources

In collaboration with the Argyll DSFB, the AFT engages with a range of resource users and authorities to improve the management of our water resources, including renewable energy developers, abstractors and fish farmers. Following the passing of Water Framework Directive, many aspects of the management of freshwater are now heavily influenced by the implementation the Water Environment and Water Service (Scotland) Act, 2003, whose lead authority is SEPA. AFT is an influential member of the Argyll Area Advisory Group, helping to implement the legislation aimed at achieving and maintaining good status of all our freshwater habitats.

Renewable Energy Development

There is growing pressure to utilise Argyll's natural resources for hydro and wind generated power. While the potential impacts of wind farm developments are usually restricted to the initial construction of roads and turbine foundations, hydro generation has a much more profound impact on aquatic habitats.

Hydro Schemes

Hydro-electric generation schemes have been developed in many of Argyll's rivers. There are a number of related issues which have the potential to affect fish and fisheries such as the disruption of fish migration, de-watering of habitats, un-natural water flows and a reduction in the natural movement of sediments required to replenish spawning and juvenile nursery habitats. The Trust engages with power producers on a regular basis to improve mitigation aspects of the management of both large and small-scale schemes. Click here for more information about hydro electric schemes »

Aquaculture in Freshwater

Although much of the activity of fish farmers is based on marine sites, salmon smolt and rainbow trout are also reared in freshwater. The potential for disease transfer, eutrophication (enrichment) of sensitive waters and escapes, allowing the interaction of wild and farm fish, are the main concerns of wild fish interests. Concerns are pursued with fish farming companies and the relative authorities through the Area Management Agreement (AMA) initiative. (See Local Marine Issues - Aquaculture)