The Laggan & Sorn District Salmon Fishery Board
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1 THE LAGGAN & SORN DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD MANAGEMENT REPORT AND REVIEW 1st April 2017 – 31st March 2018 Sea Pool, River Laggan 2 Contents Agenda of Annual Meeting of Qualified Proprietors 3 Agenda of Annual Public Meeting 3 Draft Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Qualified Proprietors 4 Draft minutes of the Annual Public Meeting 7 Annual Report 8 1. Constitution and Area 8 2 Research and Improvement 8 3. Staff 8 4. Objectives 8 5. How the Board Works 9 6. Funding 9 7. Constitutional Evolution 9 8. Fishing Methods 9 9. Salmon and Sea Trout Populations 9 10. Marine Pressures/International Impact 10 11. Angling Availability 10 12. Water Quality and Riparian Habitat 10 13. Fish Access 10 14. Riparian Habitat Assessment and Management 11 15. Juvenile Salmon and Trout Populations 11 16. Stocking 11 17. Exploitation 11 18. Salmonid Stocks 11 19. Renewable Energy Schemes 12 20. Forestry 12 21. Illegal Fishing 12 22. Conservation Policies 13 23. Legislation and its Development 13 24. Fishery Management Plan 13 Laggan & Sorn District Salmon Fishery Board Policy Statement 14 Appendices: 1. Catch Statistic Returns 18 2. Attendees at Board Meetings 21 3. Register of Complaints 21 3 LAGGAN & SORN DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD ANNUAL MEETING OF QUALIFIED PROPRIETORS MONDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2018 AT 10.00AM GAELIC COLLEGE, BOWMORE, ISLE OF ISLAY AGENDA 1. Introduction by the Convenor. 2. Apologies for absence. 3. Declaration of Financial Interests 4. Minutes of Meeting held on 28th August 2017. 5. Matters arising:- (i) Wild Fisheries Review (ii) Fishery Management Plan 6. Annual Report 7. Accounts:- (i) Approval of Accounts to 31st March 2017. (ii) Review of Draft Accounts to 31st March 2018. (iii) Determination of Fishery Assessment. 8. Any Other Business. 9. Date and Time of next Meeting(s). ------------------------------------------------------------ LAGGAN & SORN DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2018 FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL MEETING OF QUALIFIED PROPRIETORS (WHICH COMMENCES AT 10AM) GAELIC COLLEGE, BOWMORE, ISLE OF ISLAY AGENDA 1. Annual Report and Accounts for y/e 31st March 2018. 2. Any Other Business. 4 LAGGAN & SORN DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF QUALIFIED PROPRIETORS 28 AUGUST 2017 AT 10AM GAELIC COLLEDGE, BOWMORE, ISLE OF ISLAY 1 PRESENT Mr Malcolm Younger (Convenor) - Ardtalla Mr Shamus Jennings - Laggan Lord Margadale - Islay Mr David Gillies - Dunlossit Mr Niall Colthart 2 IN ATTENDANCE Mr Roderick Styles (Clerk to the Board) There were no members of the public in attendance. 3 APOLOGIES Mr Bruno Schroder – Dunlossit Sir John McTaggart 4. TRI-ANNUAL ELECTIONS All existing Board Members intimated that they were prepared to stand for re- election. In the absence of any counter proposal it was confirmed that:- (i) Malcolm Younger was re-elected as representative for Ardtalla. (ii) Shamus Jennings was elected as representative for Laggan Properties Limited. (iii) Lord Margadale was elected as representative of Islay Estates Limited. (iv) Bruno Schroder was elected as representative of Dunlossit Estates Limited. (v) Niall Colthart was elected as angling representative. After discussion it was unanimously agreed that Malcolm Young would fill the post of Convenor. 5 5. DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS It was established that there were no conflicts of interest in respect of financial interests of Board Members and the Board’s activities. 6. MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON 29 AUGUST 2016 These were approved without further amendment or comment. 7. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES & RELEVANT TO THIS YEAR Wild Fisheries Review – the Clerk advised that Scottish Government had deserted Wild Fisheries Review in all of its parts except for the requirement to produce a Fisheries Management Plan and steps taken to preserve Pike. In all probability the vote for Brexit combined with implementation of a nationwide fisheries policy and establishment on the part of Scottish Government’s own advisors that effective Wild Fisheries Management would cost the Government between £3 – 6 million per annum and had contributed to their decision to take the matter no further with them sheltering behind the reasoning of having listened to representations made anglers who advised that they could not afford the costs of rod licensing or other methods of funding. Scottish Government had established the basis of a template for a Fishery Management Plan for all DSFBs to implement but the template had been created before the sudden decision of Scottish Government to abandon the full programme of Wild Fisheries Review in March 2017. The template envisaged the management of all fresh water fish species and was now the subject of revision to take into account the fact that DSFBs are only created by Statute to deal with the management of salmon and sea trout. The template would ultimately be produced, at which point it would be inevitable that Laggan & Sorn DSFB would have to produce, implement and review its own Fishery Management Policy. Part of that Policy would be the establishment of best conservation practices as regards angling and methodology used. There was much discussion upon what might be done to update the existing Angling Code, but it was pointed out that with the salmon fisheries having been categorised from Category 1 to Category 3, the chances are that much of the control would be exercised by reason of compulsory or advisory catch and release depending upon the categorisation of the fisheries from season to season. Best information suggested that the major factor for review of the categorisation of the river’s season by season was on the basis of a rolling previous five year average of Catch Statistic Returns. On that basis, it was possible that Laggan & Sorn would return to Category 3 in season 2018. Board Members decided to keep under review the requirement to produce a Fishery Management Plan once the template was finalised by Scottish Government, with a view to adopting an Angling Code fit for purpose under the circumstances and with reference to River Categorisation from season to season. 6 8. FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN – SEE ABOVE 9. ANNUAL REPORT This was considered and approved. 10. ANNUAL ACCOUNTS These were considered and approved. After consideration of the Budget and cash in hand at bank, it was agreed that the rate for the forthcoming year would be fixed at £0.21. 11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS David Gillies raised the matter of IFM Bailiff Courses which could now be done by postal release. The matter of whether or not qualified Bailiffs could act on the river system was discussed with the Clerk tendering advice to the effect that they could not be employed by or taken on as honorary representative by the DSFB, rather that they continued to be employed by the Estates and bailiff duties incorporated into their existing contracts of employment with their current employer. The matter of requiring bailiff training has arisen as a consequence of suspicion of illegal fishing and a lack of knowledge as to what to do in the event that those fishing without permission were discovered. Both Lord Margadale and Shamus Jennings thought that this would be a good idea and would speak to their respective staff with a view to investigation whether or not the course would be undertaken. 12. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING It was agreed that the next meeting would take place on Monday, 27 August 2018 at 10am. There being no other business the Convenor terminated the meeting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 LAGGAN & SORN DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING 28 AUGUST 2017 AT 10AM GAELIC COLLEDGE, BOWMORE, ISLE OF ISLAY 1 PRESENT Mr Malcolm Younger (Convenor) - Ardtalla Mr Shamus Jennings - Laggan Lord Margadale - Islay Mr David Gillies - Dunlossit Mr Niall Colthart 3 IN ATTENDANCE Mr Roderick Styles (Clerk to the Board) (i) There being no members of the public in attendance the meeting opened up, it was observed that the Annual Report and Accounts had been considered at the Annual Meeting of the Qualified Proprietors with a recommendation for acceptance. In the absence of any contrary motion the Annual Report and Accounts were referred to, approved and accepted (ii) Any Other Business – there being no other business, the meeting closed. (iii) Any Other Business – there being no other business, the meeting closed. 8 Annual Report Introduction 1. Constitution and Area The Board for the year comprised:- Convener Malcolm Younger (Ardtalla Estate) Lower Proprietors Shamus Jennings (Laggan Properties Ltd) Lord Margadale (The Islay Estates Company) Upper Proprietors Bruno Schroder (Dunlossit Estates) Upper Co-optees Niall Colthard Lower Cooptees There are no tenant netsmen Its main areas of jurisdiction comprise the rivers, burns, watercourses and tidal areas of the Island of Islay. 2. Research and Improvement In 2001 the Board, instructed that research reports be prepared by Argyll Fisheries Trust on the Juvenile fish populations of the Rivers Laggan and Sorn. As a result of the preparation of that Report the Board agreed to organise with fishery proprietors a scheme of habitat enhancement operations. 3. Staff The Board employs a Clerk to deal with the administration of the Board’s affairs. 4. Objectives The Board is constituted under the Salmon Fisheries Legislation commencing in the 1860s as subsequently amended and presently stated in the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation)