The Committee's Blog

On Friday 6 February the Scottish Government published a further consultation document relating to salmon fishing.  This document seeks the views of interested parties in relation to a number of points that directly impact on the Association and our members.  These include the following:

• Requesting opinion on the type of angling methods that should be used when salmon fishing in future
• Requesting opinion on carcass tagging of salmon
• Requesting opinion on the introduction of a mandatory licence to kill salmon

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2015/02/4158

Given the controversial nature of some of these proposals we would welcome the opinion of members on the proposals contained within this document to allow us to formulate a response to the Scottish Government.  As the deadline for the consultation is 30 April all responses should be with the Secretary by 15 April.

To date the Committee have not received a single response in respect of the Wild Fisheries Review which we find both surprising and concerning in equal measure.  Given the potential for change contained within the Review we again request that members provide us with their views on not just the current consultation document but on the 53 recommendations contained within the Wild Fisheries Review document in order that we can formulate a balanced response from the Association.

It is the intention of the Committee to address some of the more controversial issues contained within both the Review and the consultation documents in a ballot of members in the near future.  We will provide more information on this within the coming weeks.

The Committee.

The AGM of the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association will be held on Saturday 7 February 2015 at the large Lecture Theatre, Boyd Orr Building, Glasgow University.  The Boyd Orr building is located of University Avenue close to its junction with Byres Road, Glasgow. The post code for those driving is G12 8QQ.

Doors will open at 11:30am and in a change to the traditional format there will be 4 guest speakers preceding our meeting.  Presentations will commence at 11:45am and each contributor will be provided with a 10 minute slot with a further 10 minutes provided for questions from the floor.

The following 4 guest speakers have been invited to address members:

• Professor Colin Adams, Glasgow University (SCENE) who will speak about smolt and lamprey research on the Lomond system,
• Mr Travis Van Leeuwen who will provide an update on his doctorial research into sea trout on Loch Lomond,
• Mr Robert Younger who will speak about the Clyde Estuary conservation zone,
• Ms Hannele Honkanen who will talk about the Lomond smolt tracking project.

The Committee believe this is a great opportunity for members to learn more about their system and to question individuals who are genuine experts in their field.

Anyone unable to attend the first part of the AGM should note that the full meeting is scheduled to commence at 2pm.   Members will have an opportunity to pay their fees between 1:30pm and 2pm prior to the annual meeting.

The Annual Report, Agenda and Admission Tickets will be delivered to members very shortly. Only full members may attend the meeting. New members will be admitted on production of their membership cards.

The Committee

Water Bailiff – Full Time.

The Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association (LLAIA) has a vacancy for the post of water bailiff.  The LLAIA is one of the largest angling clubs in Scotland and leases salmon and sea trout fishing on the Rivers Endrick, Fruin and Leven as well as on Loch Lomond, the largest fresh water loch in Scotland.  The Association also owns several stretches of water on the River Endrick and has fishing rights on the Clyde Estuary.

Water bailiff duties are varied and include:

• Protection of salmon and sea trout stocks by enforcing fisheries legislation,
• Undertaking maintenance and improvement works,
• Working with the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust including assisting with scientific data collection.

The successful applicant must be able to work as part of a dedicated team, have excellent communication skills, possess a knowledge and appreciation of the work of a water bailiff and must hold a full driving license.  Ideally the successful applicant will have experience of boat handling and able to undertake routine maintenance tasks.  The successful applicant will either have passed the national bailiffing examination or will require to sit and pass this qualification at the earliest opportunity.

The post covers the entire Lomond catchment area and will provide the successful applicant with a unique opportunity to work in a diverse range of fishery environments. The post holder will work an average of 40 hours per week over the course of the year.  It should be noted that during peak times night shift work and working over 40 hours per week will be necessary.  In return the LLAIA will offer the successful candidate a competitive salary, which will be subject to negotiation, and relevant training opportunities where necessary.

For further details please call The Secretary, Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association on 0141 353 5004.   To apply for this post please send your CV and a covering letter by 27 February 2015 to: The Secretary, Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, 4 Woodside Place, Glasgow, G3 7QF.

Water Bailiff – Seasonal.

The Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association (LLAIA) has a vacancy for the post of seasonal water bailiff.  The LLAIA is one of the largest angling clubs in Scotland and leases salmon and sea trout fishing on the Rivers Endrick, Fruin and Leven as well as on Loch Lomond, the largest fresh water loch in Scotland.  The Association also owns several stretches of water on the River Endrick and has fishing rights on the Clyde Estuary.

Water bailiff duties are varied and include:

• Protection of salmon and sea trout stocks by enforcing fisheries legislation,
• Undertaking urgent maintenance works,
• Working with the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust including assisting with scientific data collection.

The successful applicant must be able to work as part of a dedicated team, have excellent communication skills, possess a knowledge and appreciation of the work of a water bailiff and must hold a full driving license.  Ideally the successful applicant will have experience of boat handling and will have either passed or at the least agree to work towards passing the relevant national bailiffing examination.

The post covers the entire Lomond catchment area and will provide the successful applicant with a unique opportunity to work in a diverse range of fishery environments. The post holder will work a minimum of 16 – 20 hours per week from July through to October.  It should be noted that night shift work will be necessary.  In return the LLAIA will offer the successful candidate a competitive salary and relevant training opportunities where necessary.

For further details please call The Secretary, Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association on 0141 353 5004.   To apply for this post please send your CV and a covering letter by 27 February 2015 to: The Secretary, Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, 4 Woodside Place, Glasgow, G3 7QF

The Committee.

The Conservation of Salmon(Annual Close Time and Catch and Release)(Scotland)Regulations 2014.

On 24th November 2014 the above Statutory Instrument was laid before the Scottish Parliament and comes into force on 9th January 2015. Basically it means mandatory catch and release of all rod caught salmon (and sea trout) on every system across Scotland from the start of the season until 31st of March. This measure will be in place for a period of five years and reviewed annually.

Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“The Scottish Government places a high value on conservation of our wild Scottish salmon and other wild fish stocks. While I recognise the tremendous contribution that catch and release and the voluntary cessation of netting have had in previous seasons, I think more should be done to provide certainty about the protection of spring stocks.

“The Independent Review of Wild Fisheries has recently concluded and we are currently considering the recommendations from it and will consult further on firm policy propositions in due course. However the protection of the spring stocks cannot wait for that work to be completed and we have taken positive action to protect this iconic species.”

To view this Statutory Instrument click on the link below.

ssi_20140327_en

Stronger Control on Killing Wild Salmon.

The killing of wild salmon could require a licence following a public consultation that will be launched early in the new year.

The consultation will seek views on a conservation measure to ban killing wild salmon except under licence, along with an accompanying carcass tagging scheme to help enforcement. The measure would apply to both anglers and netters and it is hoped that the new system would be in place for the 2016 season. Catch and release in the rod fishery already stands at 80% across the season.

The introduction of a kill licence was a key recommendation of the independent review of wild fisheries published last month. The review called for this issue to be given immediate consideration given the conservation status of wild salmon.

Information on both of these topics can be found on the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards Website.

http://www.asfb.org.uk/news/

The Committee.

Members should be aware that the Scottish Government is considering introducing a ban on the killing of spring salmon before 1 April 2015 in order to protect stocks.  The announcement is produced in full below and as you can see consultation on this proposal will commence in the near future.  The Committee is keen to hear from members on this issue and would welcome any comments on this proposal.  All comments should be addressed in the first instance to the secretary.  We will update you on the closing date for comments when this becomes available.

Members should note that this proposal is entirely separate from the Wild Fisheries Review and that to the best of our knowledge this report will be placed before Ministers in October.

“Minister announces consultation to protect early-running spring salmon

Options designed to take proactive action to protect the early-running spring salmon that are at particularly low levels across Scotland, will shortly be consulted on by the Scottish Government.

Early today, in response to a written PQ from Rob Gibson MSP, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, announced that he intended to consult on statutory conservation measures, to be effective for commencement in 2015 requiring mandatory catch and release until 1 April, together with a delay in the start of the net fishing season.

The conservation measure would be for an initial 5 year period at which point it would be reviewed.

Mr Wheelhouse said:

‘The Scottish Government places a high value on conservation of our wild Scottish salmon and other wild fish stocks. While I recognise the tremendous contribution that catch and release and the voluntary cessation of netting have had in previous seasons, I think more can be done to provide certainty about the protection of spring stocks. I will therefore consult on statutory measures to replace and enhance the voluntary practices from previous years across Scotland, for a defined period.

“I am very conscious that the Independent Review of Wild Fisheries will report in October 2014. And I will need time to consider the recommendations made, and to consult further on firm policy propositions in due course. However, I have taken the view that the protection of the spring stocks cannot wait for that work to be completed, and I want to make clear our future intentions as regards this specific issue of concern.

“Today’s announcement underlines the commitment of the Scottish Government to managing and protecting Scotland’s fisheries in general, and in this instance, salmon in particular.”

Web link:

http://scottishgovernment.presscentre.com/News/Spring-salmon-protection-explored-1036.aspx

The Committee.

Leven Work Party.

Will our members and volunteers please note that due to expected high water on the river this weekend, the ‘Leven Clean Up’ work party scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 23rd August, is postponed until Saturday 30th August. Hope to see as many of you as possible then.

N.B. This week the compensation water will be from Wednesday to Friday. The gates will then be raised to allow for the clean up.

The Committee.

With just over 6 months of the season gone already and with only 11 weeks of the season left to go the Committee would like to take the opportunity to update you on the season to date and look forward to what we see as impacting on the club in the months to come.

Fishing to date

The season started with very high water levels on the River Leven and the Loch and as a result fewer anglers than normal ventured forth in search of an elusive springer.  It was not until the th of April that Chic McLean managed to land the first fish off the system and at 20Lb it was a cracker and well worth the wait.  From then on the spring fishing picked up and while fish were not as plentiful as last year anglers on both the Leven and the Loch landed increasing numbers of salmon and as has been experienced in recent years the run ended in a final flurry in the first few weeks of June.

Since then water levels have been low and it has been sea trout fishing that has taken central stage with good fish being recorded from the Estuary, Leven and the Loch.  Fish have been caught in good numbers across all 3 fisheries and the Leven this year would appear to holding a good stock of finnock which bodes well for the future.

A few fish have also been taken from the Endrick but the lack of water since the Spring has meant that those anglers who fish the river have had little to get excited about.  Despite some of the most severe rainfall in the north and the east of the country in recent days there has been little rain in the Endrick catchment area and the river has struggled to reach a meter on the SEPA gauge.

Salmon have off course still been running the Leven and some clean specimens have been caught on the Loch and in the river, the most recent we have heard of was a liced fish from the top end of Lomond.  It is hoped that the rainfall forecast does appear in the catchment as we are desperately in need of water to bring in some fresh fish.

Riverside Maintenance

As you may be aware we are restricted in the maintenance work that can be done over the summer months in order to avoid disturbing nesting birds.  As we now approach the middle of August we are now once again in a position to tackle much needed bankside growth.  It is proposed that the first weekend of action will take place on the River Leven on Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th of August.  We will commence the work by trimming the banks to the waters’ edge using a tractor and flail.  The Council have also been approached and have once again agreed to provide a skip, all we need are the volunteers.  As in previous years Scottish Water has been approached to alter the compensation flow so that anglers will have the extra water from Monday 25 August until Wednesday 27 August.  The initial meet will take place at 9am on Saturday 23^rd at Bonhill Pool car park and all members and interested parties are encouraged to attend.

The next 2 maintenance events will take place over the following 2 weekends.  On Saturday 30^th and Sunday 31^st of August work will take place on the River Endrick, the meeting point will be Killearn Village Hall at 10am.  Clearance work will take place at Drumtain, Wilson’s, Cowdenmill and Coolies.  The following weekend, Saturday 6th September and Sunday 7^th September, work will be undertaken on the Fruin with the meeting point at the Lower Fruin Car Park off the main Helensburgh Road at 10am.  Once again all members and interested parties are encouraged to attend.

New Benches

This summer the Committee took possession of 4 hand crafted benches which will be installed over the next few months.  The first has been located at the top pool on our Drumtain stretch and will be  dedicated to Malcolm Prestcott who was one of our best known and most consistent Endrick anglers.  The Committee are seeking suggestions as to where the other 3 benches could be situated and we would welcome opinions from members.

Invasive Species Update

Over the course of the summer volunteers working with the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust have been busy tackling invasive plant species such as Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed on the River Blane.  This is the first leg of a marathon effort to control and eradicate these invasive species which not only threaten indigenous plant species but undermine whole sections of river bank.  The task is enormous and quite frankly more volunteers are required if we are to get to grips with this menace.

Merganser and Goosander Count

The second stage of our Merganser and Goosander survey will take place at the end of September.  It should take no longer than 4 hours and we require in the region of a dozen volunteers to walk the banks of the Endrick to count these birds which are predating on our juvenile fish.  It is hoped that with the evidence we have gathered we will be able to approach SNH for a licence to control these birds next year.  This piece of work is therefore essential and once again we will be calling on volunteers to offer a few hours of their time.

Wild Fisheries Review

Finally, but by no means least, in October we expect Andrew Thin to produce his report on Wild Fisheries.  This is potentially the most important piece of work that has been conducted on wild fisheries in decades as it is believed that it will recommend a fundamental change to the way freshwater fisheries are managed, with a particular emphasis on migratory fisheries.

The LLAIA Committee has been involved in the consultation process, however, to what extent our suggestions and opinions were taken on board will only become apparent when the review is finally published.  There is every chance though that the review will lead to new national structures headed by a Fisheries Commissioner, which will in all likelihood have to be self financing, potentially leading to additional charges for anglers.  Conservation may also be high on the agenda, however, we will have to wait and see what scientific basis might be used to inform any proposed national measures.  Finally, future bailiffing arrangements may also come under scrutiny as might the Sunday close and protection orders.

All in all this could be a truly influential document and will invariably have a massive impact on the Association. We will write to you later in the year with our views once this document is published.

The Committee

Committee Update

Proposals On The Future Direction of the Association

As far as your Committee are concerned the primary aim of the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association(LLAIA) is, and will remain, the improvement of the fishing in the Loch Lomond system. We are committed to taking all such actions that may be necessary or advisable to secure the improvement of the fishing in the waters owned or leased by the Association.  There are certain key areas of business that we will seek to prioritise this year and in the years to come, if we are provided with the backing of the members. These priorities are as follows:

1)  Continue to enhance the fishing environment for all our members

There has been a large amount of work undertaken on the upper Endrick of late, which has allowed better access to this water for our members.  In particular, stiles and bridges now enable our less mobile anglers to fish this water from Fintry down to Honeyholm Bridge.  Looking ahead, we wish to continue to improve the lower portions of the Endrick that we own or lease as well as upgrading the Fruin to the same standard. 

That is not all we want to do though.  We are keen to tackle access issues on the River Leven. Thanks to the presence of the tow path, we feel it could be developed into the best restricted mobility salmon fishery in the UK. This would include the reinstatement of steps into the river and the re-construction of casting platforms on certain sections.  Not only would this enhance our fishery, it is hoped that it would also attract anglers from out with the area who could potentially benefit the local economy.

2)  Work towards improving our understanding of the fishery and use this information to help improve our stocks

Over the last 6 weeks volunteers have been working on a daily basis on the smolt trap on the River Endrick.The information that we have obtained is helping to provide crucial data about the health of our fishery, building on much good work that was undertaken in the past.  We, as a Committee, are keen to move this forward. This year we wish to survey the burns that run directly into the River Leven as well as some of the burns that feed the Loch.  These results will not just sit in a file. They will be used to address outstanding issues in these tributaries that were once key spawning areas.

We are also looking to support the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust (LLFT) in tackling the Invasive Non Native Species (“INNS Project”) that have colonised the banks of the River Endrick.  This is not just an Endrick problem. If we do not take action it will become a system wide problem as we can already see on some sections of the River Leven.

We also wish to obtain permission to control certain predators that are decimating our stocks of juvenile fish. A recent survey on the Endrick identified over 60 gooseanders in a 4 hour period.  Research indicates that these birds can eat anything up to 5 juvenile fish per day.  We also need to curtail the mink population. They are not only predating on our fish but they are killing the birds and mammals that enhance our fishing experience.  

3)  Act robustly when it comes to tackling pollution incidents and the impact of sudden water drops on the River Leven

We have established excellent working relationships with SEPA and have been involved in highlighting issues on most of our major tributaries as well as the River Leven. As recently as Thursday last week we were involved in alerting the authorities to a significant pollution scare on the Leven involving a hydrocarbon slick that ran for over a mile.  We want to be able to continue to tackle pollution incidents quickly no matter where they occur.

We also were on hand to record a major juvenile fish kill on the River Leven last month. This occurred when the gates to the barrage were raised too quickly. Potentially thousands of fry could be stranded together with lampreys and invertebrates that the juvenile fish feed on.  We will be making representation on this matter to Scottish Water in the near future. 

4)  Continue to develop and enhance our bailiffing operation

We will continue to drive joint approaches to tackling poaching and will be working with various partners in the coming months on this matter.

5)  Represent the Association’s Interests in the Wild Fisheries Review

With the creation of the Wild Fisheries Review Group there are clear challenges ahead for fishing associations and clubs such as our own which manage salmon and sea trout fisheries.  The Chair of this body, Andrew Thin, has invited anyone with an interest in wild fisheries to provide written evidence to the group.  To help protect your interests your Committee has requested and been given stakeholder status. We will be invited to a forthcoming discussion that will take place in June in an attempt to look after your interests in this matter.  There are several challenges not the least of which is the proposal by some, in other parts of the country, to adopt a 100% catch and release policy across Scotland. 

Information on the call for evidence and the Group can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/wildfisheriesreview.

So bearing the above in mind, how would you rather the Committee spent our time?  As you can see we are focused clearly on improving the system, protecting our interests and trying to deliver an acceptable future for our members. We now feel it is important this strategy is endorsed by our members. 

Additionally I would like to add that nowhere in the above list of priorities will you find any mention of spending time chewing over past conflicts.  Far too much energy has been wasted on this already. The decision taken to honour a promise made at the 2009 EGM subsequent to any challenge made by members was made in good faith.  As that decision is now in the process of being actively challenged by certain individuals the Committee have decided to call an EGM in early June to seek ratification of (1) our strategy for moving forward and (2) the decision to honour the 2009 EGM promise.  Members will be provided with further details in the next 7 / 10 days.

Malcolm MacCormick

Chairman LLAIA.

Update on Treasurer Position

As was noted in our last Committee update the treasurer has resigned from the Committee.  Prior to re-allocating the role within the Committee we would like to hear from any interested members who might wish to undertake this role on a voluntary basis.  Anyone wishing to discuss this matter should contact the Chairman, in confidence, through the Association office on 0141 353 5004 on or before Thursday 15 May. 

Update on River Clean Ups

It is with regret that we will have to postpone the proposed clean ups on the River Fruin on Sunday 11 May and the River Leven on the weekend of 17 May.  The forecast for this weekend is wet and a high water will curtail our activities on the Fruin.  The long range forecast for the next week is also wet, particularly for the middle of the week, and with the gates lowered on the Leven it is unlikely that they will be raised by next weekend.  

We will keep you informed as to alternative dates which will now most likely be in the beginning of June at the earliest.

LLAIA Committee.

Committee Announcement

At the 2014 AGM of the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association changes were made to the constitution in relation to the granting of honorary memberships.  Following the AGM this generated queries relating to individuals who had in the past been awarded honorary memberships but were not included on the current Association list of honorary members. 

In addition to the above a formal request was tabled by a current member, supported by other members, asking that a commitment made by myself on behalf of the group I represented at the EGM of 2009 should be implemented.  This commitment was to award Mr Angus MacRitchie, fishery manager, and Mr Michael Brady, Chairman of the Association, honorary memberships should our group be elected.  I can confirm this commitment was agreed by our group before the EGM and was made in front of over 200 members on the night of the EGM.  According to the member making this request this was unfinished business that predated the amendments that were made to the constitution in 2014 and if settled would allow a line to be drawn on the past, which several members including myself had called for at the last AGM.

As a result of this request a discussion was held at the committee meeting on 24 April 2014 as to whether this commitment should be honoured.  This was not an easy matter to address and there were differing views expressed and following a show of hands a majority of committee members voted to honour this commitment.  Given the strong links between the group in 2009 and the committee elected in 2012 (all the office bearers were from that group) I personally think this was the right decision under the circumstances, however, like any other decision the committee makes members are at liberty to challenge this decision should they wish. 

As a direct result of this vote the treasurer has resigned from the committee.  His duties will be picked up by other committee members in the interim prior to a new treasurer being appointed in due course.  The issues surrounding the other honorary members have also been resolved.

Malcolm MacCormick

Chairman