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Education and Raising Awareness

Processing a sample of sea trout

WRFT Biologist, Peter Cunningham, processing a sample of sea trout as BBC Alba film crew looks on, June 2009

The conservation and management of wild fisheries has become increasingly difficult. Around the world, many fisheries have failed because of a lack of understanding and awareness of threats to fish populations until after stocks have collapsed.

A major challenge is that of gaining support from fishers and other stakeholders for the actions needed to sustain wild fisheries. In Wester Ross, attitudes are changing. In recognition of the depleted state of local salmon and sea trout populations, most anglers now return a majority of the fish they catch. This allows more fish to survive until the spawning season, maximising egg deposition and the production of juvenile fish for future years.

Download Catch and Release guidelines from the NASCO website »

Over the years, the WRFT has held a series of seminars to promote information exchange and debate on topics ranging from "ecosystem restoration" to "sea lice management". Seminars have been attended by representatives of government agencies, local estates and fisheries proprietors, and a wide range of other interested people. The Trust also seeks to develop a greater sense of understanding and responsibility for looking after our remarkable wild fish populations in future years by working with the younger generation via school-based projects.

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  • Award for Educational Projects
    WRFT has received an award, from the Highland Council, for its educational projects in both primary and secondary schools in Wester Ross.  Posted: 29/12/2010 (569KB)
  • Ecosystem Fertility & Salmon Smolt Seminar November 2007
    This report is a compliation of summaries of presentations at the WRFT Ecosystem Fertility Seminar in Gairloch on 30th November, 2007.  Posted: 05/09/2008 (390KB)
  • Wester Ross Marine Wildlife Poster Draft 2
    This is the second draft of an A1 poster to be produced to raise awareness of marine biodiversity in the seas around Wester Ross and the North West Sea Lochs Marine Protected Area. Copies should be available for sale at local outlets later in 2013. .  Posted: 14/05/2013 (1.21MB)
  • WRFT Review July 2012
    This is the latest 'annual review' which covers work carried out during the 2011 field seson, and includes sections on juvenile fish surveys, salmon catches, sea trout sampling (and sea lice), arctic charr, interviews with herring fishermen, and WRFT schools based project.  Posted: 04/07/2012 (1.83MB)
  • WRFT Review May 2009
    Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Annual Review, May 2009.  Posted: 19/05/2009 (4.82MB)
  • WRFT Review of Activities 2009 to 2012
    This review summaries the work of Wester Ross Fisheries Trust during the period 2009 to 2012 in support of the WRFT Fisheries Management Plan 2009+, and sets priorites for future activities.  Posted: 11/12/2012 (2.62MB)
  • WRFT sea lice monitoring Report 2007 - 2008
    Following a review of sea lice biology and ecology and past studies from a local context, this report presents the results of sea lice monitoring of wild sea trout in the WRFT area in 2007 and 2008 and considers associations with salmon farming.  Posted: 19/11/2009 (2.29MB)
  • WRFT Wild Trout Project Report 2006-07
    Posted: 24/06/2008 (1.24MB)