cromartyfisherybailiffs

Work carried out by staff of the Cromarty Firth Fishery Board. If you wish to contact the water bailiffs please email [email protected]

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

The start of April heralds the start of the smolt trapping season. Board staff operate a fixed wolf trap as well as a number of rotary screw traps. All were set up and opened today
April can be a fickle month weather wise.Two years ago we had a foot of snow, today is was 16c

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

Day and night patrols of rivers across the district have been undertaken this week looking for those who may be fishing illegally. No incidents were recorded, but we remain vigilant and the patrols are ongoing.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

With glorious weather in the Highlands this week, board staff took the opportunity to prepare the rotary screw traps for this seasons smolt run. The traps were taken to the trapping site and then built. These will be placed in the river at the end of the month.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

The annual wildlife crime report for Scotland was released today. Fish poaching remains the largest reported form of wildlife crime, with the most wildlife crime offences being recorded in the Highland and Islands.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

As we move into spring, it's been a busy weekend for board staff as patrols of the coast and rivers were carried out looking for those who fish illegally. These patrols take place at anytime, any place, and at anytime across the district and are ongoing.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

The water bailiff seminar was held today at Birnam. The sharing of experiences and ideas from those who work to protect migratory and freshwater fish were freely shared, and with speakers from across the sector, it was an excellent event.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

Yesterday board staff checked the site on the Balnagown River where a redundant weir was removed last year. It is fantastic to see the natural river bed restore itself now the weir has gone. Not only that, but fish passage, which was problematic, is now resolved.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

It's been an extremely busy month for board staff. We have been fortunate to have had an extended period of dry weather, which saw river levels drop. During this period, we stocked out 1.5 million salmon eggs as part of a long term mitigation stocking policy.

[Open Seas @TheOpenSeas]

For years the Scottish Government has failed to implement vital reforms for our inshore fisheries.

Now is a chance to have your say! Government is asking what is working in their management of inshore fisheries, and what is not.

Respond to the consultation to ensure governance is fair and reflects the public interest here > https://t.co/b8Pu8YTCLP
Via @STVNews

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

Patrols looking for illegal fishing have been ongoing at varying times of day. On Saturday we were joined by Police Scotland on one such patrol and multiple sites were visited. We are grateful for the ongoing support they offer us in tackling illegal fishing.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

With warming water temperatures, the salmon smolt migration has picked up, and we are seeing increasing numbers of fish trapped compared to last week. Illegal fishing patrols are ongoing, and one illegally set net was seized this week from one of the rivers within the district.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

A busy week for board staff. Two scew traps were installed ready for the smolt run. To improve their efficiency, rock bags have been placed in the river beside them. It's hoped these will help guide the smolts into the trap. A canoe run was also carried out to count sawbills.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

With low water levels the last of the salmon eggs have been stocked out in to the River Blackwater. Now the hatchery is empty, the hatchery troughs and egg trays were washed. Patrols looking for illegal fishing across the district have been increased.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

Some streams have compacted river beds making digging redds hard. At such locations we use bio degradable vibert eggs boxes. Placed on the river bed and covered with stones for protection, they allow us to use habitats that would perhaps otherwise have been difficult to stock.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

It has been a busy week for board staff as the annual mitigation stocking of eyed salmon ova has got underway. All of the stock in the hatchery goes into the upper River Blackwater, with the first of the eggs stocked having been incubating for just over 3 months

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

Today saw the salmon fishing season come to an end on the rivers in Easter Ross. It is an offence to fish for salmon and brown trout during the annual close time. Board staff were out patrolling today and these patrols will continue despite the fishing season having ended.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

Lots of water coming down the rivers across the district this morning after heavy overnight rain

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

In September we finished off the last of our juvenile fish surveys to assess the success of the stocking of eyed ova. Once again the numbers of 0+ salmon fry found has been encouraging, with also good numbers of salmon parr of different age classes found at each site.

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

Today is the end of the brown trout fishing season in Scotland.The salmon fishing season has also closed on a number of rivers across the district. It is an offence to fish for these species during their annual close times. Patrols are ongoing looking for those who fish illegally

[cromartyfisherybailiffs @cromartyboard]

We would like to remind fishermen that it is an offence to fish for or take salmon and sea trout within 1.5km of the MLWS. Should you catch one accidently and don't have permission to fish for them, then please return it unharmed. Thank you.