Salmon Scotland expands investment in wild salmon conservation

The Salmon Scotland Wild Fisheries Fund has confirmed that almost £230,000 will be allocated this year to nine conservation projects across different areas of Scotland, from Ayrshire and Galloway to Argyll, Lochaber, Loch Lomond and the Western Isles.

The projects will focus on riverbank restoration, tree planting, improving spawning grounds, and using new technologies to track the movements and survival of individual salmon.

In addition, Scotland's salmon farmers will contribute a further £460,000 over the next two years, bringing the fund’s total investment to £1.96 million.

The initiative will also install more than 650 metres of fencing to keep livestock away and support the planting of native trees to improve salmon and trout habitats.

Furthermore, spawning gravels across the catchment and its tributaries will be loosened and cleaned, while new microchip readers will help fisheries experts track individual salmon and sea trout.

"By continuing this investment, we can help local organisations turn good ideas into practical action that makes a lasting difference for wild salmon and sea trout," said Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland.

Also, Jon Gibb, coordinator of the Salmon Scotland Wild Fisheries Fund, said: "What stands out about these projects is the local knowledge behind them. They are designed by people who understand their rivers and know where investment can have the greatest impact."

The fund was established by Scotland's salmon farming companies to support practical actions aimed at conserving and restoring wild fish populations.

"The Wild Fisheries Fund is helping us continue vital work on the River Eachaig. The funding will support natural measures to strengthen another stretch of riverbank, repair previous work, install livestock fencing and plant 1,000 trees to protect and improve the riverside environment," concluded Robert Younger, manager of the River Eachaig Fishery Syndicate.