AFT Activities - Loch Linnhe and the Firth of Lorn

The AFT is undertaking a wide-ranging work programme on a number of river catchments in the North of Argyll, including the Awe, Creran, Etive, Kinglass, Nant and Esragan.

Fish surveys

Regular electrofishing surveys of all the main catchments of the area have been undertaken to monitor changes over time. The diverse fish community of Loch Awe has been the subject of a number of research and monitoring programmes by the AFT and other bodies. A variety of methods have been employed to confirm the presence, distribution and relative abundance of a variety of species and information on the life history of a number of species has also been collected. The movement of brown tout and pike in Loch Awe has been studied by tagging projects.

Habitat surveys

Surveys have covered a large proportion of the fish habitat in the Creran, Awe, Kinglass and Etive catchments, using SFCC protocols and the analysis of the data is currently being undertaken, generating reports on specific catchments. The findings are used to inform management policy.

Genetic studies

In association with Belfast University, genetic studies on brown trout populations in Loch Awe & Loch Avich indicate that the large ferox brown trout for which the loch is famed are genetically distinct from other brown trout forms in the loch. Further work on this subject is required to fully understand the structuring of trout and salmon populations in the region.

Fish counter validation

The number of salmon and sea trout migrating through the Awe catchment is monitored by the fish counter on the Awe Barrage. In 2003, Scottish and Southern Energy contracted AFT to validate the accuracy of the counter through video time-lapse photography. In 2003, the counter provided an estimated accuracy of over 98%.

Management

Data from the above work programmes has informed individual riparian and fishery owners, the Awe District River Improvement Association and the Loch Awe Improvement Association on management policy through the development of the Loch Awe Strategic Fishery Management Plan (2006) and the Awe Salmon Fishery Management Plan (2002). A Fishery Management plan for the River Creran is currently underway.

Our work in the Loch Linnhe area is supported by the Awe District Rivers Improvement Association (ADRIA), the Loch Awe Improvement Association, the P. F. Fleming Trust, Scottish & Southern Energy Plc, C.A.F. America, and Scottish Sea Farms Ltd.