Skip to content

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.

Related Downloads

To download a file, right-click over it's name and choose Save Link/Target As...