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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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  • Wester Ross Bivalves
    Presentation by Roger Mclachlan from the seashells workshop at Gairloch Museum on 2nd December 2023. This presentation provides an introduction to the identification of bivalve seashells most often found on local shores (a few others too). The last page of the presentation has links to sources of information to help with identification and recording. Please go to iSpot 'Bivalves of Wester Ross' project page to report any interesting finds. Good luck!.  Posted: 04/12/2023 (5.37MB)
  • WRFT Newsletter October 2023
    This newsletter provides a summary of work during the period March to September 2023 including sea trout sampling, juvenile salmon surveys and production, workshops and some other activities. .  Posted: 07/10/2023 (2.24MB)
  • Fishy Tales by Sea, Gairloch 21 October 2023
    Poster advertising a family day on the beach and in Gairloch Community Hall in collaboration with Thunderbolts and Lightning theatre company, West of Scotland Herring Hunt, Dr Neil Burns underwater fish and fish habitats video project, and others. .  Posted: 21/09/2023 (206KB)
  • A voluntary marine nature reserve for Gairloch?
    Presentation with some ideas for a marine nature reserve for Gairloch. Presentation revised in August 2023 after initial meeting in January 2018. For discussion . . . !.  Posted: 04/08/2023 (6.22MB)
  • Peatland nutrition, hummock formation and carbon sequestration poster
    This poster is based on observation in peatland areas of Wester Ross and shows how mossy hummocks may be formed by birds and other animals which deposit droppings rich in phosphate which fertilise the vegetation. What are the optimum levels of ecosystem-derived organic phosphate to support biodiversity and carbon sequestration in peatland areas? Poster by Peter Cunningham, prepared for the WRFT Catchment Vegetation Revival Workshop at Beinn Eighe NNR and Kinlochewe, 25th and 26th April 2023 .  Posted: 02/05/2023 (546KB)
  • Catchment vegetation workshop introduction and field trip report
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  • Angus's Boat song 16 April 2023 words and story
    The song Angus's boat tells the story of the fisheries around Gairloch, Wester Ross. Angus was a fisherman who lived at Big Sand, by Loch Gairloch and whose wooden row boat was pulled up on the shore by the Sound of Longa. WRFT Biologist, Peter Cunningham often met Angus on the shore when he lived nearby; Angus also told his stories to Sue Pomeroy as part of the herring fishers project. Gairloch Museum also has recorded conversations with Angus. .  Posted: 17/04/2023 (171KB)
  • Wester Ross Marine Protected Area an introduction
    Presentation by Nature Scot describing the history of the Wester Ross MPA, designation, protected features, management and monitoring, with links to further information. This presentation was delivered at the Wester Ross MPA Discovery Day on 14th October by Sue Pomeroy of Little Loch Broom Marine Life group. .  Posted: 08/11/2022 (709KB)
  • Herring Fisheries & West of Scotland Herring Hunt
    Presentation by Dr Michelle Frost at the Wester Ross MPA Discovery Day in Ullapool on 14th October 2022. .  Posted: 08/11/2022 (4.47MB)
  • Maerl by Prof Jason Hall-Spencer
    Maerl supports the whole web of life with 100s of species using it for spawning, nursery areas, hiding and feeding. This presentation by Prof Jason Hall-Spencer at Wester Ross MPA Discovery Day on 14th October explains why it is so important to protect maerl habitats. .  Posted: 27/10/2022 (1.92MB)
  • WRFT Newsletter March 2022
    This newsletter provides a summary of some of the work of WRFT over 2021, including some plans for 2022.  Posted: 11/03/2022 (2.95MB)
  • Welcome back to new WRFT_7MB
    This presentation (smartphone resolution) prepared for the relaunch of the 'new' Trust in April 2021 reviews wild salmon and sea trout in Wester Ross, some pressures they face, past work and support, and future objectives for WRFT. .  Posted: 13/04/2021 (6.73MB)
  • Welcome back to new WRFT_18MB
    This presentation (for computer) prepared for the relaunch of the 'new' Trust in April 2021 reviews the wild salmon and sea trout of Wester Ross, pressures they face, some past work and support, and future objectives for WRFT.  Posted: 13/04/2021 (17.66MB)
  • Skye and Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Review September 2020
    This review presents a summary of the work of the Skye and Wester Ross Fisheries Trust during the 15 months up to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 and other related information including catch reports, results of fish surveys, an assessment of wild salmon populations and some of the pressures they face, and reports from project activities. .  Posted: 23/09/2020 (8.05MB)
  • Wester Ross Spring Spawning Herring Poster
    This poster shows some of the life-cycle and ecology of herring which spawn close to Red Point to the south west of Loch Gairloch in March. The poster is still in draft form; comments welcome! .  Posted: 29/03/2019 (912KB)
  • Wester Ross Wild Trout Workshop 30th April 2019
    This workshop at Kinlochewe Village Hall will focus on the diversity of wild trout in the Wester Ross and Isle of Skye areas and on conservation and fisheries restoration. .  Posted: 15/03/2019 (429KB)
  • Feed the Land by Peter Cunningham
    This presentation considers the phosphorus deficit across much of Wester Ross and the need to understand ecosystem nutrition and ecosystem management requirements for grazing areas, croftlands, and for wildlife and fisheries management. .  Posted: 03/07/2017 (17.02MB)
  • Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Poster of Activities 2012
    This poster was prepared in 2012 to summarise the activities of the Trust in freshwater and marine environments. Production was supported by the Scottish Government via RAFTS.  Posted: 17/01/2017 (8.94MB)
  • Skye & WRFT Newsletter January 2017
    This newsletter provides a summary of activities on Skye and on the mainland during the 2016 field season, including juvenile fish surveys, sea trout sampling and education projects.  Posted: 13/01/2017 (2.57MB)
  • WRFT Review January 2015
    This review covers an 18 month period from July 2013 to December 2014 (with Jan 2015 update from Wester Ross Area Salmon Fishery Board) and presents a summary of the results of fish juvenile fish surveys, sea trout and sea louse monitoring, fish farming related issues, surveys on the Isle of Skye, a Little Gruinard macro-invertebrate study, mink monitoring and other activities carried out by the Trust.  Posted: 21/01/2015 (7.09MB)
  • Wester Ross Marine Wildlife Poster
    This poster shows some of the marine wildlife habitats and marine wildlife to be found around Wester Ross including habitats of nature conservation importance within the possible Wester Ross Marine Protected Area. Copies are available from WRFT.  Posted: 18/07/2014 (1.22MB)
  • 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 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)
  • 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)
  • 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 Review May 2009
    Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Annual Review, May 2009.  Posted: 19/05/2009 (4.82MB)
  • 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)
  • WRFT Wild Trout Project Report 2006-07
    Posted: 24/06/2008 (1.24MB)