NESS DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD 2015 Annual Report Including Accounts to Year Ending 15 May 2015 www.ness.dsfb.org.uk 2015 Annual Report Contents Contents ................................................................................................................................................... i Acronyms and Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. ii Foreword ................................................................................................................................................. 1 About Us ................................................................................................................................................. 2 Our Team ................................................................................................................................................ 3 The Ness System ..................................................................................................................................... 5 What We Do ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Key 2015 Operational Statistics .............................................................................................................. 8 Latest Catch Statistics ............................................................................................................................. 9 Latest Fish Counter Data ....................................................................................................................... 14 Fisheries Monitoring ............................................................................................................................. 16 Fisheries Management.......................................................................................................................... 24 Emergency Works ................................................................................................................................. 36 Fisheries Enforcement .......................................................................................................................... 39 Fisheries Development ......................................................................................................................... 45 Wild Fisheries Review ........................................................................................................................... 49 Compliance with Good Governance Obligations .................................................................................. 54 Key Priorities for the Forthcoming Year................................................................................................ 57 Financial Summary ................................................................................................................................ 58 i 2015 Annual Report Acronyms and Abbreviations AS3IG Assessment of Salmon Stocks in Scotland: Integrating Genetics CAR Controlled Activities Regulations CL Conservation Limit DSFB District Salmon Fishery Board FMO Fisheries Management Organisation IAC Inverness Angling Club IFM Institute of Fisheries Management INNPS Invasive Non Native Plant Species MH Marine Harvest MFTI Moray Firth Trout Initiative MSS Marine Scotland Science MSW Multi Sea Winter NASCO North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation NBFT Ness and Beauly Fisheries Trust NDSFB Ness District Salmon Fishery Board PAW Partnership Against Wildlife Crime PFA Pre Fishery Abundance PIT Passive Integrated Transponder RLI Rivers and Lochs Institute SAC Special Area of Conservation SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency SNH Scottish Natural Heritage SSE Scottish and Southern Energy SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest THC The Highland Council UHI University of the Highlands and Islands WEF Water Environment Fund ii 2015 Annual Report Foreword CHAIRMAN The last year has been the busiest and most challenging year for the board since it was formed and I would like to start by thanking Chris Conroy and his team for their excellent work and tremendous commitment. While our work on the river and in supporting and developing angling activities has been demanding, the "off river" activities have been no less demanding. The Scottish Government’s Wild Fisheries Reform will soon see district salmon fishery boards disbanded and replaced by fewer, larger fisheries management organisations. While the government’s intentions are clear, the route to achieving them is not and we will continue to engage constructively in the process to do all we can to ensure a successful, deliverable and beneficial outcome. As part of the process the government intends to introduce conservation limits for salmon and, as I write this report, the Government classification of the Ness district would mean that no salmon could be killed next season. While this classification is currently under re-assessment, the future for our wild salmon is becoming ever clearer. With increasing world populations and consequent pressure on all marine life, the high seas no longer offer the haven for our salmon that they once did. It seems that the days of commercially harvesting mixed stock salmon fisheries in our coastal waters are just about at an end. We must do all we can to protect them when they make it back in to our estuaries and river systems. I commend our local estuary net fishery for their voluntary conservation efforts in recent years. I also commend every angler, no matter what the regulatory regime requires, to take that step from being a "harvester" of this magnificent fish to being a true sportsman, and return your fish to breed and sustain a future for our sport. Michael Martin Chairman DIRECTOR Early reports suggest a welcome improvement in catches for the 2015 season. Despite a slow start, the Ness system enjoyed its best ‘spring’ salmon catch in 20 years with over 300 fish reported. In terms of total catch, 2015 is on track to be the best for several years. We look forward to receiving the final detailed catch returns in due course. This was an exceptionally busy year for the Ness board and its partners. In addition to our routine fisheries monitoring, management and enforcement duties, we hosted the annual Institute of Fisheries Management Scottish water bailiff seminar and Scotland’s first Salmon Festival. The feedback received from both events has been extremely positive. There are significant changes ahead in terms of the Scottish Government’s Wild Fisheries Reform process. We have already seen the introduction of statutory spring conservation measures and the Scottish Government’s ‘Kill Licence’ proposals could see mandatory catch and release introduced across the Ness district in 2016. Furthermore, it is likely that existing district salmon fishery boards will be replaced by a network of fewer, larger fisheries management organisations in the near future. We will continue to make representation on behalf of salmon and sea trout fisheries across the Ness district to ensure that any new systems or regulations are fit for purpose. Thank you for all your support over the last year. Chris Conroy Director 1 of 66 2015 Annual Report About Us The Ness District Salmon Fishery Board (NDSFB) is a statutory body responsible for the protection and enhancement of salmon and sea trout fisheries in the Ness district. It was constituted under the 1862 and 1868 salmon fisheries legislation, subsequently amended in the Salmon Act 1986 and the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Act 2001 and more recently amalgamated under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003. Salmon fishing rights in Scotland are private heritable titles that are registered separately from land. As such these titles can be bought and sold like any other property. In Scotland, the cost of the local administration, protection and improvement of the fisheries is privately financed by the proprietors. Lewis MacGruer with a 24lb ‘spring’ salmon caught from Loch Ness in April 2015 The district boards finance their work by levying a rate on the salmon fishery owners in the district. The 2003 Act states that a district board shall have the power to impose an assessment, to be known as the fishery assessment, on each salmon fishery in their district. The fishery assessment is assessed at such uniform rate as is determined for all fisheries in the district by the board and shall be levied according to the valuation of a fishery as entered onto the valuation roll. Elected representatives of those salmon fishery owners provide the core of the membership of the board. Since 1986, the boards are required also to include representatives of salmon anglers and salmon netsmen in the district. A further revision to the constitution of the boards was made in 1999 to allow for even wider representation on the boards by other parties who may have an interest in salmon stocks or fisheries. A district salmon fishery board may do such acts, execute such works and incur such expenses as may appear expedient for: The protection or improvement of the fisheries within their district; The increase of salmon (and sea trout); or The stocking of the waters of the district with salmon (and sea trout). 2 of 66 2015 Annual Report Our Team BOARD MEMBERS Board members are elected triennially with the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 specifying who may stand for election, how