Local Marine Issues

AFT is an active member of both the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Forums and Area Management Agreements (AMAs). Via these management groups, AFT seeks to promote the health of wild and farmed fish and work with fish farmers and wild fishery interests to ensure best management practice is employed by both sectors.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture has become a major industry in rural areas over the last 20 years and provides substantial benefits to the local economy. Many studies on the West of Scotland, specifically on wild salmon and sea trout, have shown that intensification of sea lice and cross breeding with escaped farmed fish remain the most important factors affecting wild salmon and sea trout stocks. In each of the seven areas designated in Argyll, an Area Management Group (AMG) is established to formulate and manage each AMA. Group members include representatives of local salmon farms, AFT Fisheries Trust Biologist and representatives of the Argyll District Salmon Fishery Board and local River Improvement Associations.

The AMAs aim to incorporate the following measures to promote both wild and farmed fish health:

1. Synchronised Production, ensuring all sites within the AMA are on the same production cycle and thus allowing at least a six week fallow period and coordinated treatment regime.
2. No ovigerous (egg bearing) lice on farmed fish between February and June during the smolt run.
3. Develop site specific containment plans and contingency plans for re-capture of escapee fish.
4. Relocation of farm sites in sensitive areas.
5. Promotion of catch and release policies.
6. Restoration of degraded river systems.
7. Protection against gyrodactylus salaries.
8. Promotion of wild fishery restoration plans.

Currently there are five signed AMAs in Argyll; Loch Fyne (2001), Linnhe/Lorn/Etive/Sound of Mull/Sunart (2002), West Mull (2004), Kyles of Bute (2005) and Lower Firth of Lorn (2006). Two further AMAs in the Sound of Jura and Isle of Arran AMAs are currently under development.

The AMA initiative is promoted by the Scottish Executive’s Tri-partite Working Group (TWG) and in Argyll, is facilitated by Lucy Fry, the Regional Development Officer for AMAs in Argyll.