In 2024, organizations have received almost £140,000 to address the long-term decline of wild salmon and sea trout.
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Scottish salmon farmers that operate on the west coast, Orkney, and Shetland, have launched a fund of £1.5 million to promote conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of wild salmon and sea trout.
This fund, previously called the Wild Salmonid fund, has already allocated £335,000 since 2021 including a £35,000 grant to save the leaking Fincastle Dam on West Harris, helping preserve an important salmon fishery.
Fishery manager Jon Gibb who is based in Fort William and keeps relationship between the farm-raised salmon sector and fisheries and angling groups, coordinates this strategy: "The wild fisheries fund provides a rare and exceptional opportunity for rural and coastal communities to access vital funds aimed at improving their local rivers and lochs."
Moreover, organizations have received in 2024 almost £140,000 which has been to address this long-term species decline.
According to Salmon Scotland, wild Atlantic salmon in Scotland was officially classified in 2023 as an endangered species.
Otter Ferry Seafish has been awarded £49,404 to partner with Argyll wild fisheries experts to develop a gene bank to boost threatened salmon populations.
Argyll Fisheries Trust and the River Ruel Improvement Association will collaborate in this four-year project. The aim is to help stock several regional rivers and become a "blueprint", creating "genetic insurance" network of banks across the country.
On the other hand, £10,000 have been allocated to tackle erosion on the River Ruel, improving the habitat through tree planting and fencing.
Regarding this scheme, Andrew Barker of the River Ruel Improvement Association, said: "We are extremely grateful to the Salmon Scotland wild fisheries fund for making possible a very exciting project to grow to maturity salmon parr taken from the river before releasing them back into the river to spawn."
"This pilot scheme is being developed using the unique onshore facilities of Otter Ferry Seafish and with the help of the Argyll Fisheries Trust and it is hoped that it will provide a blueprint in due course for other Scottish rivers to protect and increase their salmon stocks," he added.
Finally, Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, indicated: "Scotland's salmon farmers are determined to find solutions, engaging constructively with the wild fish sector and taking meaningful action to save wild salmon."
"Our members not only fund projects but also share their expertise to help restock wild fisheries, contributing to reversing the decline in wild salmon numbers," Scott concluded.
