LOCH LOMOND FISHERIES TRUST SUMMARY REPORT 2013
INTRODUCTION: LOCH LOMOND FISHERIES TRUST is an environmental charity formed in 2001 to campaign for the conservation and restoration of native fish populations in the Loch Lomond, River Leven and Lower Clyde catchment area and the freshwater habitats on which these populations depend. The Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust (LLFT) was established in 2001 through a partnership between riparian owners, the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association (LLAIA) and the Scottish Federation of Coarse Anglers (SFCA) to undertake research and promote the monitoring, management, preservation and enhancement of the fish and fisheries resources in the Loch Lomond, the River Leven and Lower Clyde catchment area. It is our Mission to: Develop understanding and gather the evidence required to conserve and enhance naturally self-sustaining populations of native fish and to promote effective management of long term sustainable sport fisheries. The Trusts key aims are to: Conserve and enhance the native fish populations of Loch Lomond and the aquatic habitats on which they depend, Establish the highest quality management of fish species and ensure the long-term sustainability of wild native populations both as a conservation asset and as an exploited resource
THE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT The fisheries management planning initiative was a national programme involving all Rivers and Fisheries Trusts across Scotland (RAFTS) with financial support from the Scottish Government. The Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) 2008-2013 provided a framework for implementation of the key objectives of LLFT over five years. This work programme was driven by local management priorities led by the Trust but linking directly into both regional and national fisheries management priorities. This provided a basis for coordinated all-species fishery management across Scotland for the first time. These national links were demonstrated by LLFTs participation in key national strategic initiatives including FASMOP and a programme of Biosecurity Planning. FASMOP (Focusing Atlantic Salmon Management on Populations) was a national programme of genetic typing for wild salmon funded by Government through RAFTS designed to address local fisheries priorities within the Lomond system. LLFT produced a nationally funded biosecurity plan in 2010 pulling together a wide range of local and regional stakeholders including Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park (LLTNP), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). Such projects have been key to generating support at a national level for local management priorites and implementation work designed to address local issues. The LLFT Fisheries Management Plan also facilitated identification of shared priorities with other national and European wide conservation programmes most importantly Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Natura 2000**. WFD is the primary EU legislation which provides the framework within which all management of the UK water environment operates. River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) are the mechanism by which WFD priorities are addressed at a regional scale. These plans developed by SEPA provide a basis for holistic management of the aquatic environment based on the concept of integrated catchment management and an ecosystems approach. LLFT has been a key partner in development of the RBMP which covers Loch Lomond and sits on the Local Area Advisory Group (AAG) which oversees its implementation. Natura 2000 is EU legislation which underpins management of European Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The Endrick Water is an SAC and SNH are the body responsible for reporting to Europe on its ecological condition. LLFT has designing the sampling strategy and conducted the surveys for European site condition monitoring in 2011. In addition, LLFT the lead partner on a range of important locally driven programmes which inform this process more widely including monitoring smolt migrations and developing estimates of carrying capacity for salmon. The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Biodiversity Action Plan (NPBAP) incorporates a number of Trust projects which embrace LLFTs priorities for conservation of aquatic biodiversity in Loch Lomond. Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) are the mechanisms by which regional conservation priorities are identified to meet the requirements of EU Habitats and Species Directive. LLFT sits on the NPBAP Steering Group which has developed these plans and has been a key stakeholder driving their direction across the park. Partnership building and an ethos of collaborative working is central to LLFTs mission. These initiatives have pulled together a wide range of statutory, non - statutory and third sector organisations from across the region and nationally and within which LLFT has played an
Number Number Number important role. The Trust would like to thank the Scottish Government, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, the Crown Estate, the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts, Loch Lomond Angling and Improvement Association (LLAIA), DeVere Cameron House, Luss Estates, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE) and all the schools, riparian owners, land owners and community organisations throughout our management area who have supported this work. THE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN: IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING STATUS OF SALMON AND SEA TROUT POPULATIONS Distribution and abundance of salmon fry in the River Fruin Length distribution fruin 40 Length distribution Fruin 22 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 <45 50-54 60-64 70-74 80-84 Length 90-94 100-104 110-114 Trout Salmon 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 <45 50-54 60-64 70-74 80-84 Length 90-94 100-104 110-114 Trout Salmon Length distribution Fruin 34 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Trout Salmon <45 50-54 60-64 70-74 80-84 90-94 100-104 110-114 Length Spatial extensive electro fishing surveys have built up detailed baseline information on: Juvenile distribution around the catchment, juveniles productivity and how this changes from year to year, locations of the most important and productive habitat areas, Where the best spawning grounds are located. SMOLT TRAPPING PROGRAMME:
Smolt production from the Endrick Water has been monitored using rotary screw traps since 2008. Smolts are juvenile fish which are migrating to the sea. As they have survived for 1 3 years in the river before migrating they are the best life stage at which to assess productivity within a river. This has provided data on migration timing, age structures and run size. Smolt captures in 2012 were the highest in the 5 years of operation. FOCUSING ATLANTIC SALMON MANAGEMENT ON POPULATIONS (FASMOP). Populations of Atlantic salmon are often separated as a function of strong homing behaviour to natal spawning areas. Where this seperation has remained intact over evolutionary timescales different populations can in many cases be expected to be structured into separate breeding populations which are genetically distinct. These breeding populations are the fundamental biological units which define the characteristics and determine local abundance of a particular river s stock of salmon. This genetics strongly influences life history traits such as timing of smolt migrations and adult spawning returns to freshwater and effects resilience to environment stresses and thus survival rates and recruitment. It is therefore essential to understand the nature of this population structuring if effective conservation and management strategies are to be developed. A local programme of salmon genetic sampling was undertaken by LLFT across the Lomond catchment as part of the nationally coordinated FASMOP project. This project was designed to link into the national SALSEA programme and provided the local scale information needed to help manage salmon stocks as discrete breeding populations. Lomond samples were collected in 2009 from the location show on the map below. Genetic samples were analysed from 251 fish from 4 tributaries (Fruin, Blane, Falloch and upper Endrick). Based on a set of 17 micro-satellite markers there was a strong degree of genetic differentiation was evident in the Lomond system. Loch Lomond was shown to have one of the highest degrees of genetic structuring in Scotland (with over 73% of juveniles sampled being correctly assigned back to their parent stock/river). This indicates that Lomond salmon comprise distinct sub populations which do not inter-breed and which are locally adapted to survival in these specific areas. This finding confirms that long term damage to stocks can result from mixing these populations for example by practices such as stocking. In order to properly manage salmon populations within the Lomond area it is necessary to determine both the number of sub populations present and the extent of separation. This sepeartion is shown in the dendrogram. DNA samples for fish from the same river cluster
together but show significant distance between rivers. The rivers Fruin, Luss and Leven (lower part of diagram) form distinct groupings separate from each other and also from those of the Endrick (top part of diagram). It is notable to have such a high degree of spatial structuring at such small geographical scales. ENDRICK SITES RIVER LEVEN SITES LUSS SITES FRUIN SITES Cluster dendrogram showing genetic separation of samples from different sub catchments This analysis also provides estimates of effective population size in 4 tributaries as follows:- Fruin 77 pairs of fish ; upper Endrick 59; Blane 24; Falloch 26 These are the spawning adult population sizes contributing to the juvenile population as determined by the degree of genetic diversity present in the juvenile sample.
NATURAL PRODUCTION OF ATLANTIC SALMON (Salmo salar) IN THE ENDRICK WATER IN RELATION TO CARRYING CAPACITY. Understanding the potential production that is possible from a river its carrying capacity is essential in order to establish the scientific basis underpinning conservation based fisheries management. A long term study of habitat carrying capacity for the Endrick Water, Loch Lomond, Scotland, UK which addresses the question: What is the optimum level of natural production for Atlantic salmon achievable from the available habitat in the Endrick Water? Habitat walk over surveys for a total of 20 km of main stem quantified total habitat availability (wetted area m2) and quality (grade 1-4) as nursery habitat for juvenile Atlantic salmon. Two Wetted Area models were applied to the habitat data in order to estimate egg deposition rates and spawning escapement required to achieve optimum levels of juvenile production from the habitat present. Modelling indicated (1) c. 900,000 1 million eggs represented a robust estimate for the point of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) on the stock recruitment curve; (2) 250 pairs of spawning salmon were sufficient to fully utilise the habitat Estimates of mean standing stock of 0+ age salmon in the upper river section (8 km) suggested egg deposition levels for the period 2007 2010 in the region of 192,000 eggs (compared to 324,000 at MSY). This was estimated to equate to a spawning population of approximately 56 adult pairs. Analysis of genetic diversity present in juvenile samples indicated an effective population size of 59 spawning pairs. These estimates compare with a predicted spawning stock size at MSY based on habitat ranging from 95 104 pairs. These findings suggest that current levels of natural production are healthy in the context of national trends from elsewhere in Scotland, greatly in excess of the biological level but below carrying capacity. The final phase of this programme looking at the smaller tributaries will provide the first complete catchment coverage of its kind in Scotland. This project was initially begun with FMP funding from Government but is now being supported by grant funding SNH with additional support provided locally by LLAIA.
Charr Brown_Trout Sea_Trout Perch Roach Eel Salmon Powan 3S_Stickleback Minnow RARE FISH SPECIES OF HIGH CONSERVATION STATUS ASSESSING ARCTIC CHARR POPULATIONS IN THE NATIONAL PARK The National park area supports populations of Arctic charr a nationally important species. A major project was undertaken by LLFT in 2010 jointly funded by LLTNPA and SNH to conduct extensive fish surveys on three Trossachs lochs; Loch Venachar, Katrine and Achray, and Loch Eck in the Argyll to determine the status of charr populations and fish assemblages in these waterbodies. Mean catch per unit effort by habitat type 12 10 8 6 4 profundal sub-littoral pelagic mean CPUE 2 0 Fish captures (CPUE) by habitat type from Loch Eck July 2010 The headline finding was confirmation of the continued presence of a viable population of Arctic charr in Loch Eck. This was very encouraging in the light of concerns raised by the lack of charr recorded from the last three documented surveys. However, charr abundance had declined significantly in Loch Eck since 1997. This work resulted in SNH undertaking subsequent work to establish a refuge site for Loch Eck charr which may be on an extinction trajectory. Charr populations in the Trossachs lochs were confirmed apparently extinct.
BIOSECURITY AND INVASIVE NON NATIVE SPECIES (INNS) This is an innovative approach using citizen science to promote practical environmental management on-theground and to foster concepts of environmental stewardship within the local community The programme is developing a network of trained volunteers to carry out surveys of riparian plant INNS and build capacity to implement subsequent treatment and control. Surveys have mapped the distribution and extent of Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Giant hogweed within the riparian zone of the lower Endrick and Blane catchment. Other outcomes this project is delivering include; 1. A community based volunteer network trained in INNS identification 2. GIS database of key riparian non-native plants and maps of their distributions 4. A treatment and control plan for identified INNS 5. Development of capacity to implement this control plan to include training in chemical control methods 6. Publicity to promote awareness of the threat of INNS Ruffe justice for Powan! Loch Lomond is home to the nationally rare species Powan (Coregonus lavaretus) - a native fish which is only found naturally in two Scottish lochs, Loch Lomond and Loch Eck. Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) were first discovered in Loch Lomond in 1982. Ruffe is an invasive non native species. Recent declines in powan are closely correlated with the introduction of ruffe due to predation of powan ova (eggs) by adult ruffe which continue to forage during winter when powan are spawning. This is seriously impacting the population in Loch Lomond but in Loch Eck (where there are no ruffe) powan are extremely abundant.
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Saving rare fish with the help of local school children Over the last 3 years children from local schools have been taking part in a unique environmental education program run by LLFT to help conserve this rare fish.
Powan in the Classroom has introduced over 200 children to one of the rarest fish in the UK. Children from schools around both Loch Lomond and Loch Eck reared locally sourced powan eggs in specially adapted classroom hatcheries They were taken through the life cycle from eggs to hatching before releasing the young fry back into their native loch. Many participating schools received eco-flag status for the ground breaking work they were conducting. Featured on BBC Radio Scotland s Out of Doors programme in 2010 Luss primary school was a winner in the National Green School Awards sponsored by TOTAL for an inspirational environmental education project ion 2011 Featured on National TVs British Animal Honours Awards in 2013 What the schools said about it... This project brought learning to life!!! We all loved it. It gave us a real sense of achievement The Trust staff were so helpful, enthusi-astic and friendly with the children This was a real learning experience for the whole class The children felt they had become part of saving an endangered species Powan in the Classroom offer kids the unique opportunity to learn about the special nature of their local environment, the threats it faces and to make a direct hands-on contribution towards a real conservation programme.
FISHERIES ASSESSMENTS AND AQUATIC ECOLOGY SURVEYS LLFT regularly undertakes a wide range of surveys associated with hydro power and other developments. Recent projects include:- Hydro power and Wind farms Dulas Ltd - EIA: Cashel hydro-scheme: Fish and aquatic ecology assessment Luss Water hydro-scheme Fisheries assessment Argyll Energy EIA: Fish population assessment of the Arklet Water, Loch Lomond Highland Ecodesign Boquhan hydro scheme: Habitat and fish population assessment Tullich and Burn of Mar hydro schemes : Fish population surveys Glen Falloch hydro scheme: Fish population survey of the River Falloch, Loch Lomond Glen Douglas hydro scheme: Fish population survey of the River Douglas, Loch Lomond EIA: Carron Valley wind farm : fish population surveys Road Improvement Schemes and Developments Other EIA: A82 road improvement scheme: Littoral zone habitat surveys of Loch Lomond EIA A82 road scheme: Loch Lomond fish survey (Pulpit rock II) EIA A82 road scheme: Loch Lomond fish and habitat survey (Pulpit rock I) Scottish Enterprise EIA: Drumkinnon Bay: Fish survey and habitat assessment SEPA - Monitoring post restoration recovery: a hydro- geomorhological survey of the Fishrie burn habitat enhancement project. River Deveron. LLTNP - Glen Dochart Wading Birds Project: lamprey habitat assessment Scottish Water - Fish population survey of Milton reservoir No 2 Falloch Estates/FWAG- River habitat quality survey of the river Falloch, Loch Lomond