16 SALMON FISHING www.intrash.com/sheries 17 August 2012 After a twenty year gap, the resumption of traditional fixed Bag net engine salmon netting on the souther shore fishing of the Moray Firth from Gardenstown returns to harbour is highly encouraging – not least Gardenstown because it comes at a time when numbers of fishermen on Scotland’s east coast is at an all- time low Report and photos by David Linkie he purchase by the family run Usan Salmon Fish- Teries Ltd of the rights to operate bag stations from Rosehearty west to More Head has been welcomed by resi- dents of Gardenstown, home to one of the largest owner- ship concentrations of shing vessels, including midwater and prawn twin rig trawlers in Scotland. Although the days of herring drifters landing nightly catches at Gardenstown are distant memories, the tidal harbour nestled under towering cliffs continues to be used by a size- able eet of seasonal static gear boats shing for lobsters Gamrie, which will be devel- stand comparison with their vourable conditions have been for their rst season Usan and mackerel in the summer. oped next winter to provide other locations in Scotland. compounded further by much Salmon Fisheries took the The arrival earlier this year living accommodation during Unfortunately, since starting rain which in turn has led to decision to operate in prox- of the traditional salmon coble the ve-month season to the 2012 netting season on coloured ood water entering imity to Gardenstown harbour, Usan Lass has helped increase replace the temporary caravan. the east coast of Scotland the sea. As a result of this, and build up knowledge in this activity around the harbour. Although the operators are has coincided with unusu- salmon, grilse and sea trout area, with the help of local Young netsmen John and consolidating their knowledge ally prolonged run of winds, swim further offshore before knowledge. Kevin Pullar with crewman of local conditions, a process which have restricted crews entering their natal river. As the rst ood of a spring Magnus Johnston have been expected to take a couple of from checking and changing While owning the rights tide surged up the entrance welcomed, for which they seasons, early returns indi- the nets, and creating dif- to set xed engine bag nets channel to start uprighting the express their appreciation. cate that the shery is capable culties when setting and along 9.25 miles of shoreline ebbed out eet of inshore boats, Fishing xed engine stations of yielding viable catches that retrieing leaders. These unfa- either side of Gardenstown, John Pullar headed towards the requires netsmen to continu- ally maintain gear: regularly washing growth off leaders and nets along with repairing 1 2 nets damaged by seals and bad weather. Having access to spare gear ashore is essential. For this purpose, Usan Salmon Fish- eries has bought a former garage and compound over- looking the foreshore at 1: John Pullar sees no sign of life in the first net set close in to the unique foreshore hamlet of Crovie 2: Approaching the second bag net of the morning near Troup Head 17 August 2012 www.intrash.com/sheries SALMON FISHING 17 1: A 5kg salmon comes to the Magnus Johnston holds the surface of the fish court best fish of the morning 1 2: The distinctive Scottish Wild Salmon tag 3: Inshore static gear boats wait for the incoming tide in Gardenstown harbour containing two heavy duty 12v batteries was oating close to a large buoy on the seaward side of the sh court. A transducer emitting a high frequency randomly timed ping was suspended a fathom below the surface from the buoy, linked to the oating battery box by armoured cable. Since reopening the Gardenstown bag net shery, netsmen have been plagued by 2 marauding seals, which after 20 years of having sole rights to migratory sh in the bay, have been causing widespread damage to gear and trapped sh on a daily basis. In keeping records on the numbers of live and damaged sh taken from each net, early indications are that the seal scarer is proving effective and is available in addition to the netsmen being licenced by Marine Scotland to shoot seals close to their nets, although the system price tag of £5,000 is considerable. To reduce seal damage, Usan Salmon Fisheries have modied their nets to make them more resistent to seals. Bag oors and sides are constructed from 4mm braided 90mm mesh netting 3 to prevent seals from tearing the net before attacking sh. Doublers are used to square off the corners of the court so salmon cannot get trapped in the previously narrow tapering pocket of netting accessible from outside the bag. To prevent seals from swim- ming through the small inner rst bag net, less than a mile longer axis is used to encourage door into the court before to the east set close beside the salmon/sea trout to swim into feeding on sh captive inside, hamlet of Crovie. The leader the sh court/trap. rigid stainless steel frames are and shore side anchors of this After being turned by the used to create 6 x 6.5 inch x station are secured to rocks leader into the body of the bag 14in panels. By replacing the in front of the unique terrace net, sh swim into the tide and plastic door bars, the narrow shoreline of traditional sher- pass through the wider outer openings, which are wide men’s of homes. opening before entering the enough to allow the biggest Using a viewing funnel to sh court through a stainless class of salmon to swim freely check for signs of life in the steel framed inner gap into the in, are proving adequate to all sh court, avoiding the need sh court itself. Constructed attempts by seals to tear the to release the 4m wooden staff from 90mm mesh, the bag opening apart. and haul the bottom of the bag nets are 40-50 meshes deep. over the side. Opening the Usan Lass headed crossed Having made considerable to the surface, resulted in John Preferably 6in mesh netting release lacing enabled the sh Gamrie Bay towards another investment in developing their Pullar declaring a blank and is used for the 40fm leaders, to fall onto the deck, allowing net. Strong swirls and glimpses business and creating further putting the motor into gear to increasing to 14in when jelly- Magnus to dispatch, bleed of silver as John brought Usan long-term employment, Usan go to the Peter net 200m away. sh are prevalent. (with a nick in the gill) and up to the sh court raised Salmon Fisheries continue Designed for catching Five single uke anchors label the salmon with a distinc- expectations of a better return. to liaise closely with Marine salmon and sea trout in close to weighing 200kg-300kg each tive Scottish Wild salmon tag. While a gleaming freshly run Scotland to ensure long-term shore, traditional xed engine secure bag nets not attached to On lifting the net clear of the 5kg salmon was welcome, management and sustaina- bag nets are in effect a oating the shore (outriggers). Inshore holding pins, the net slipped unfortunately it was unaccom- bility. sh trap, consisting of one or bags are held in place with clear back into the water as the panied. Earlier in 2012, the Usan more sh courts and associated three anchors in addition to crew raised the vertical staff Just 400m to the west, the Station operated a catch and inscales and wings, together ropes secured to ring bolts before pushing it back down Middle net yielded a second release scheme in conjunc- with a leader net designed to cemented into rocks ashore. into the water for most of its grilse. While lying alongside tion with Marine Scotland in lead the salmon into the trap; On a still morning with length before tying it off once the bag with the engine off, which a pre-agreed weekly the whole of which is xed or heat from a strengthening again on the top spreader. an occasional high pitched total of sh were released moored to the shore or seabed. sun beginning to burn off the Set at the seaward extremity sound was audible - this was back into the sea after elec- The design concept of bag fog, the second net showed of Troup Head, the net didn’t an acoustic seal scarer, which tronic tracking devices were nets has remained virtually welcome signs of activity. need to be hauled, with the Usan Salmon Fisheries were inserted in them. This work unchanged since similar types After two retaining pins were lack of activity overnight being trialling on behalf of the Sea will continue until 2014 and of sh traps were rst used lowered through a handful of contributed to by the quiet Mammal Research Unit to it is hoped that the results of 200 years ago. meshes fore and aft into the conditions and crystal clear implement better management these tagging experiments will A bag net is an elongated gunwale before a pocket of water. With the remaining of seals. yield a valuable insight into diamond, in which a short netting containing a grilse and three nets set under More On arriving at the March the behaviour of these highly leader set at 90 degrees to the small sea trout was brought Head, west of Gardenstown, net, a waterproof box prized sh. .