AFT Activities - Lower Firth of Lorn

Maps compiled using Ordinance Survey data

AFT has undertaken a wide-ranging work programme on the Nell, Euchar, Oude, Barbreck and Add river catchments in mid-Argyll. Currently, two projects are underway in the Lower Firth of Lorn area;

Fish surveys

Electrofishing surveys of the Nell, Euchar, Oude, Barbreck and Add river catchments were undertaken in 2006/2007 to evaluate the distribution and relative abundance of juvenile salmon and trout. Further surveys will be undertaken in 2008 in a programme supported by the Tripartite Working Group.

Genetic studies

In association with Fisheries Research Services (FRS) and Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST), groundbreaking genetic studies on salmon populations in the Nell and Euchar catchments indicate that there is a significant structuring of salmon populations both within and between these two catchments. This is the first time this has been demonstrated in relatively small west coast systems. In addition to this, the study was also able to identify the origin of salmon caught in a sweep-net fishery in Loch Feochan and estimate the proportion of the population exploited by the fishery. In addition to this the genetic study can give estimates of the number of affected breeders in a population. Further work is being undertaken to evaluate these findings and gather more information on genetic structures.

Management

The data collected has been used to inform individual riparian owners, fishery owners and the Nell & Euchar River Improvement Association which has helped to facilitate the development of the Lower Firth of Lorn Area Management Group.

Our work in the Lower Firth of Lorn is supported by the Tripartite Working Group, Lighthouse Caledonia (Pan Fish Scotland Ltd), the Atlantic Salmon Trust and Fisheries Research Services.