Lower Lorn AMA Report 2009
Signed 2004, updated 2009
1.
Introduction
The Tripartite Working Group was established in 1999, with the Scottish Executive and Rural
Affairs Department as chair, and includes members from both the salmon farming industry
(Scottish Salmon Producers Association) and the wild fisheries industry (Atlantic Salmon Trust,
Scottish Anglers National Association, Association of Salmon Fisheries Board and Rivers and
Fisheries Trusts of Scotland). The purpose of the group is to ‘address problems common to
salmon farming and wild salmon fisheries and to seek solutions for ensuring the maintenance of
a healthy stock of wild fish whilst at the same time promoting a sustainable aquaculture
industry’.
In order to facilitate these objectives at a local level, Area Management Agreements (AMAs)
were established in 2000, between salmon farming companies and wild farming interests.
This AMA aims to; promote and implement measures for the maintenance of healthy stocks of
wild and farmed fish within the defined area, promote restoration of wild salmon and sea trout
stocks within the defined area and develop a fuller understanding of wild salmon stocks and
factors influencing their distribution and prevalence/ abundance.
1.2.
Geographical area
The geographical area covered by the AMA includes all the marine waters in the Firth of Lorn
between a northern boundary (Rubha nan Saithean (NM723 270) to Minart Point (NM817 237))
and a southern boundary (Rubha na h-Airde Droighniche (NR731 882) and Tramaig Bay (NR658
888)). The catchment areas of each river flowing into the sea in this area are also included in
the AMA.
1.3.
Members
- Lakeland Marine Ltd
- Kames Fish Farming
- Argyll Fisheries Trust
- Argyll District Salmon Fisheries Board
- Nell and Euchar River Improvement Association
- Add River Improvement Association
Figure 1: Location of Lower Lorn AMA
1.4.
Links to related websites
www.rafts.org.uk
www.asfb.org.uk
www.argyllfisheriestrust.co.uk
www.lakelandsmolt.co.uk
www.scottishsalmon.co.uk
www.tripartiteworkinggroup.com
www.scotland.gov.uk
2. Wild fisheries
2.1. General description of main salmonid systems in Lower Lorn AMA
The major catchments in the Lower Lorn AMA are the Nell, Feochan, Euchar, Oude, Barbreck
and Add. The area comprises three recognized fishery districts; the Awe, Nell and Add.
The Nell catchment covers nearly 60km2 and comprises two sub-catchments, the Nell catchment
to the north (consisting of the River Nell (Feochan Mhor), Loch Nell and River Lonan) and the
Feochan Beag to the south. Hill-farming predominates in this catchment, with rough grazing on
hillsides and some improved grasslands in the lower valleys. There are also areas of commercial
forestry and broadleaf woodland. It is thought that salmonids have access to a significant
proportion of the catchment. There have previously been active commercial net and
recreational rod and line fisheries for sea trout and salmon in Loch Feochan and the Rivers Nell
and Euchar. A net fishery still operates in Loch Feochan.
The River Euchar has a catchment area of 61.4km2 - it drains Loch Scammadale and flows 8km
before discharging into Loch Feochan at Ardentallan Point. The land use in the catchment is a
mixture of hill farming, broadleaf woodland and commercial forestry. There is a dam used for
electricity generation situated at Bragleenbeg, which has been in place for 65 years and is
believed to have restricted access to salmonids.
The River Barbreck is a small spate-fed river with a catchment of 26km2, bordering both the Awe
and the Add catchments. The main land uses in this catchment are also hill farming and
commercial forestry, with the latter covering large parts of the upper catchment. There are
areas of broadleaf woodland present along the riparian zone.
The Oude catchment drains Loch Tralaig and is thought to contain a relatively small area
accessible to migratory salmonids. The presence of a dam for generating hydro-electricity has
modified water flow conditions in the Oude.
The River Add drains a relatively large catchment of 121km2, with the main river covering 22km
before flowing into Loch Crinan near the settlement of Crinan. There are two dam structures
associated with the Glashan hydro-electricity generating scheme, these both have operational
fish passes. A net fishery operates on the River Add.
2.2. Catch data for Lower Lorn AMA
Figure 2: Catch data for Nell District. NB The data used in this graph is Crown copyright, used with the
permission of Marine Scotland. Marine Scotland is not reponsible for interpretation of this data by third
parties.
Figure 3: Catch data for Add district. NB The data used in this graph is Crown copyright, used with the
permission of Marine Scotland. Marine Scotland is not reponsible for interpretation of this data by third
parties.
Awe District catch information to follow.
2.3. Netting stations in the area including indication of whether active and catch data
There is an active netting station on Loch Feochan. Reported catches are as follows: 2007 – 43
grilse; 2008 – 8 grilse, 2 sea trout; 2009 – catch returns not received yet.
Information on netting activities on the River Add in 2009 is not available at present.
2.4. Any data that may exist to indicate effort e.g. number of angler days
Information to follow
2.5. Fish farm escapees
See Section 3.5.
2.6. Statutory and non statutory conservation/ management policies e.g. seasons/ methods/
C&R
Information on Nell/ Euchar to follow.
The fishing season for the River Add runs from 16th February to 30th October. The tidal stretch of
the Add is leased (for sea trout only) to Lochgilphead Angling Club (permits are also available).
There is no catch and release policy for this stretch of the river. The Add RIA operate partial
catch and release on their beat: it is mandatory to return all sea trout less than 1lb and all grilse
less than 5lbs and advisable to return all colored and hen fish. The fish per member limit is
restricted to 2 salmon and 2 sea trout per season; further fish incur an extra fee, even if
returned.
2.7. Indication of, including links, to any Fisheries Management Plans for these catchments
As part of a national fishery management planning initiative supported by the Scottish
Government and facilitated by RAFTS, the Argyll Fisheries Trust has developed a Fishery
Management Plan for Argyll and the Islands. The Strategic Fisheries Management Plan aims to
engage all stakeholders into the on-going process of management with an aim to conserve and
restore all native fish populations and their habitats for the benefit of local biodiversity and the
fisheries resource.
Argyll Fisheries Trust Strategic Fishery Management Plan for Argyll and the Islands http://www.argyllfisheriestrust.co.uk/pdfs/argyllstrategicfishery.pdf
The Argyll Fisheries Trust has also developed a Fisheries Biosecurity Plan for Argyll and the
Islands, as part of a national action plan. The plan aims to ‘establish a sustainable framework
that will lead to the prevention, detection, control and eradication of invasive non-native
species within the Argyll region’ http://www.argyllfisheriestrust.co.uk/pdfs/draftbiosecuritymanagementplan.pdf
2.8. Reports of any research/ monitoring projects currently being conducted in catchments
within the AMA area
The Argyll Fisheries Trust completed a survey of fish populations in the Lower Firth of Lorn
between 2006 and 2008. Survey work will be undertaken in 2010 and 2011 on habitat
accessibility and quality in the six main catchments within the AMA area.
The Argyll Fisheries Trust has recently secured funding through the SEPA Restoration Fund for
an engineering assessment of the cost of removing the obstruction (dam) on the River Euchar. A
Catchment Management Plan is also due to be developed for the Euchar.
The River Add lies close to the Knapdale Forest in mid-Argyll, where a five year trial
reintroduction of the European beaver is underway. The Scottish Beaver Trial is a partnership
project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society.
2.9. Details of any stocking in each catchment
There was no stocking within the Lower Lorn AMA area in 2009.
2.10. Details of any fish health management policies e.g. GS/ fish movements
GS information boards have been distributed by the Argyll and Lochaber DSFBs to river
proprietors throughout the region and displayed in prominent locations.
3. Fish Farming Section
3.1. A general description of the overall lice/ fish health management strategy in the area and
why it is important
The Lakeland Group (including Lakeland Marine Farm Ltd) has signed up to the Code of Good
Practice for Scottish Aquaculture and as such it is understood that every effort is made to
effectively manage lice and fish health.
3.2. Marine and Freshwater farming sites in the Lower Lorn AMA area
Table 1: Freshwater farming sites in Lower Lorn AMA
Company Name
Receiving water
Consented
Biomass (T)
Species
Kames Fish Farming Ltd
Loch nan Lusgainn Mhor
Salmon
n/a
Kames Fish Farming Ltd
Loch Tralaig
Salmon
n/a
Kames Fish Farming Ltd
Kames, Kilmelford
Rainbow trout
n/a - Hatchery
Rainbow trout
n/a -
Salmon
n/a - Hatchery
Loch Oude Rainbow Trout Loch Oude
Fishery, Andy MacArthur
Lakeland Smolt Ltd
Carnasserie
Table 2: Marine farming sites in Lower Lorn AMA
Treatment consents (g)
LKD
Port na Moine
1375
Salmon
37.8g
14.18g
764g
LKD
Port na Cro
1000
Salmon
52.92g
19.85g
691.2g
LKD
BDnC (N)
750
Salmon
47.32g
17.75g
527.8g
LKD
BDnC (S)
750
Salmon
49g
18.37g
682.4g
LKD
LKD
Port Bheachan
Lunga
130
1000
Salmon
Salmon
24.34g
43.5g
N/A
N/A
687.6g
345.6g
LKD
LKD
Dounie
Ardifuir
400
1575
Salmon
Salmon
N/A
37.3g
N/A
14.14g
N/A
907.2g
LKD
Poll na Gille
750
Salmon
46.73g
17.52g
937.4g
LKD
Ardmaddy
1300
Salmon
42.78g
16.04g
472.4g
Kames
Shuna Castle
895
60.7g
22.7g
156g
Kames
Kames Bay
250
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Kames
Eilean Coltair
365
Salmonids/
Halibut
Salmonids/
Halibut
Salmonids
EmBz
(Slice)
Calicide
TAQ/
TAQ
MTQ
2406.2/
1351g
481.3
1750/
38,500g
350
1147.6/
15,585.9g
262.5
904.1/
4845.3g
262.5
Not currently licensed
1750/
7000g
350
N/A
N/A
1358.3/
1534.4g
551.5
1313/
Not
263
currently
licensed
1245.5/
337.8g
455
313.2
1351g
21.4g
8g
97.5g
127.7g
25,543g
Company
Name
Site name
Consented
Biomass (T)
Species
Excis (3
hr max)
Deltamethrin
(3 hr max)
Azamethiphos
(Salmosan) 3/24
hr max
3.3. Graphical description, by CoGP management area, of lice trends and, where possible,
treatment times over the last production cycle
All salmon farms in the Lower Lorn AMA are signatories to the industry’s Code of Good Practice
for Finfish Aquaculture. This covers all aspects of finfish good practice including; consumer
reassurance, fish health, protecting the environment, welfare and husbandry, feed and feeding,
National Sea Lice Treatment Strategy, Integrated Sea Lice Management, containment and a
Veterinary Health Plan. The National Sea Lice Treatment Strategy contains detailed information
on how monitoring should be undertaken and suggested treatment trigger levels.
The graphs below show the monthly average lice counts within the two production areas in the
AMA, Loch Melfort and Loch Craignish. Strategic lice treatments are shown.
Figure 4: Lice trends in Loch Melfort production area 2009. NB Lice treatments administered late February
2010.
Figure 5: Lice trends in Loch Craignish production area 2009. NB Lice treatments administered late
February 2010.
3.4. Details of specific actions that have been taken by fish-farmers in response to AMA
discussions e.g. strategic lice treatments prior to smolt runs
The Ardifur salmon site, which is located close to the mouth of the River Add, is farmed for only
8 months every two years and outwith the wild smolt run (February to June). This was agreed in
2008 during discussions over a restructuring programme to achieve separate synchronous
production areas within the Lower Lorn AMA.
3.5. Record of escapes
There have been no reported escapes from marine or freshwater sites in the Lower Lorn AMA in
2009. Details of escapes in previous years can be found on
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Fisheries/Fish-Shellfish/18692/escapeStatistics.
3.6. Containment policies and mitigation measures
All farms in the AMA area adhere to the CoGP guidance on containment.
3.7. Fish health management issues
No fish health issues on sites within the Lower Lorn AMA.
3.8. Details of any relocation plans at a point in time when Companies are happy for this
information to be in the public domain
No relocation plans at present.
3.9. Indication that Companies involved have signed up to the industry CoGP
All salmon farms in the Lower Lorn AMA are signed up to the CoGP – each site is audited
annually and only if compliant will accreditation be issued.
Kames Fish Farming Ltd are members of the Quality Trout UK scheme.
3.10. Sea surface temperature data for the AMA area
Information to follow.
Related documents
Code of Good Practice for Scottish Aquaculture available for download:
http://www.scottishsalmon.co.uk/dlDocs/CoGP.pdf
Argyll netting report 2009 available for download:
http://www.tripartiteworkinggroup.com/article/uploaded/Argyllpostsmoltseatroutsamplingreport2009.pdf
Argyll Fisheries Trust Fishery Management Plan 2009 available for download
http://www.argyllfisheriestrust.co.uk/pdfs/argyllstrategicfishery.pdf
Argyll Fisheries Trust Biosecurity Management Plan 2009 available for download
http://www.argyllfisheriestrust.co.uk/pdfs/argyllbiosecuritymanagementplan09.pdf
Disclaimer
Whilst this report has been prepared by the Argyll RDO on the basis of information that she
believes is accurate, any party seeking to implement or otherwise act upon any part or parts of
this report are recommended to obtain speacialist advice. The RDO does not accept
responibility under any circumstances for the actions of other parties occassioned by their
reading of this report.