Environment

Forth District Salmon Fisherys Board & River Forth Fisheries Trust

Forth District Salmon Fishery Board has recently seen a change of director, with Mr Patrick Fothringham taking over at the helm (Summer 2008), as well as the creation of the River Forth Fisheries Trust, which gained Charitable status in the Spring 2009 (SC040311) .

This is an exciting time for all Angling Clubs in the District, with the creation of the Trust and the recently publised Management Plan. Cramond Angling Club are pleased to be working in partnership with both these bodies and looks forward to some of these improvements coming to fruition.

Conservation Policy 2010

Mandatory:

The items in this section are requirements under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003:

  • It is illegal to sell rod caught salmon or sea trout in Scotland
  • No organic bait of any description may be used between the periods 1st February – 31 May, and 27th August – 31st October
  • Lures and baits are restricted to one single, double, or treble hooks between the periods 1st February – 31 May, and 27th August – 31st October
  • Prawns or shrimps or any part of these may not be used at any time

The following are Forth District Salmon Fishery Board’s and River Forth Fisheries Trust’s recommendations:

Salmon:

  • All salmon caught before 1st June should be released
  • Barbless hooks should be used before 1st June
  • All coloured fish should be released throughout the season
  • No angler should kill more than 1 salmon/grilse on any given day
  • Salmon of 15lbs or over should be returned
  • All hen salmon should be returned in September and October
  • Netting operations should be delayed until 1st June

Sea Trout:

  • We would prefer it if all sea trout were returned, but no angler should take more than 2 sea trout on any given day
  • All coloured sea trout to be returned 

The River Almond Forum

in 1998 West Lothian Council and a group of partner organisations developed “The River Almond Catchment – A Plan for Integrated Management.” This resulted in an integrated action plan for the river which was adopted by all the statutory bodies that have a role to play in the Almond. This led to a number of initiatives, implementation of “Sustainable Urban Drainage”(SUDS) measures, “Management of Mineral Waste Effluent Using Reed Bed Treatment Systems”, “The White Burn Initiative – a community led project and “Community Involvement Projects.”

In 2007 our Chairman got in touch with West Lothian Council to see what plans and initiatives were currently in place. Fortunately this enquiry coincided with the Council allocating funding which may potentially allow the removal or improvement of a number of weirs and barriers on the Almond.

In the Spring of 2008 West Lothian Council invited all the interested parties including CAC to a meeting to discuss the current situation and how it might be improved. Before this meeting, the committee of the CAC commissioned Dr. Andy Walker, a fishery expert, to undertake a visual survey of the barriers on the Almond both natural and man-made. This was distributed to the Council, SEPA and FDSFB before the meeting and proved very useful to all involved.

Since then a further meeting has been held, when all parties visited the barriers under consideration. The Council now await comment from each group as to their views of the various weirs. We hope to bring more news in the near future.