Fertility and food availability

Habitat fertility and the availability of food are key factors which determine the productivity of most fish populations in Wester Ross. Across much of Wester Ross, biological production is limited by the availability of nutrients, particularly phosphorus. Rainwater contains little phosphorus; the rocks underlying many of the river catchment areas of Wester Ross rivers yield very little phosphorus. The fertility of the land and waters that flow from the land is therefore largely determined by the ecosystem and by anthropogenic influences.

Much of Wester Ross has been heavily grazed by cattle, sheep and deer over hundreds of years. Removal of livestock and deer carcasses from catchment areas represents a net export of nutrients that under more natural ecosystem conditions have become available to aquatic life. Formerly there were also more people living in headwater areas, contributing to nutrient recycling in a semi-natural way. In terms of nutrient cycling, people, in the past, were a part of the ecosystem.

Baile mor Woodland

By reducing grazing pressures, planting trees and applying fertilizer, soils are given a chance to recover. The largest WGS in Scotland, the Baile mor Woodland established by Gairloch Estate, is located between Gairloch and Loch Maree. There are trout lochs in the new woodland and these may become more productive as the trees become established.

Related Downloads

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• 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)
• Land Use and Salmon Smolt Production in Wester Ross
  Presentation given by Peter Cunningham at the WRFT Ecosystem Fertility and Salmon Smolt Production Seminar on 30th November 2007. Describes growth of juvenile salmon in Wester Ross and how this relates to soil fertility and land management. Note large size of file!.  Posted: 05/09/2008 (22.41MB)
• Little Gruinard juvenile fish assessment 2006 report
  This illustrated report presents the results of the 2006 WRFT Little Gruinard electro-fishing survey. Relationships between juvenile salmon abundance and habitat characteristics are discussed. The natural production of juvenile salmon in this Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for Atlantic salmon could be strengthened through restoring levels of natural fertility within the Little Gruinard catchment area.  Posted: 22/09/2008 (964KB)
• March brown recording scheme
  Buglife Scotland's March brown survey 2010.  Posted: 04/03/2010 (178KB)
• Presentation by John Roberston (FWAG) on SRDP funding
  Presentation by John Roberston (FWAG) on SRDP funding given at workshop on 26th January 2009. Click on the links in this presentation to explore related pages on the SRDP website.  Posted: 04/02/2009 (457KB)
• Response to Beinn Eighe NNR Management Plan September 2009
  Response from Peter Cunningham to Beinn Eighe NNR Management Plan .  Posted: 02/10/2009 (174KB)