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Mature sea trout caught at Shieldaig Trap What is the The Shieldaig Sea Trout Project is a fisheries project run by the Scottish Executive's fisheries research agency, FRS, and arose from widespread concerns about declining stocks of sea trout and some salmon populations in the The sea trout is a sea going or anadromous form of the brown trout. Like salmon the fish spends its juvenile stages in freshwater and migrates to sea to feed before returning to over winter as finnock or breed as mature adults. The runs of returning adults and finnock have supported locally economically important fisheries in NW Scotland. The decline in sea trout numbers has led to a substantial drop in the numbers of visiting anglers, with serious consequences for many rural areas. The aim of the Shieldaig Sea Trout Project is to examine why there has been a collapse in sea trout and to find ways to help restore them to their former abundance. The Shieldaig Sea Trout Project provides for the first time in What has happened so far? The Shieldaig trap The Shieldaig trap has been in operation since the spring of 1999. Each spring we capture and tag approximately 1500 sea trout smolts .This allows us to make estimates of marine survival when the surviving fish return at the end of the summer. A restocking programme has been in place since 1997. Currently we stock the Sea Trout Project biologists collecting early returning sea trout smolts. Spring 2007 The work at Shieldaig has contributed much to our knowledge of natural and abiotic factors affecting sea trout populations, particularly the close relationship between fish farm lice levels and shoreline densities of infective juvenile lice. Shieldaig has become the focus of a number of FRS scientific studies researching various elements of sea louse biology. The future focus of the Sea Trout Project will be mainly restoration whilst maintaining ongoing lice studies and monitoring of juvenile fish populations. Visitor Centre: In April 2000, an interpretation centre was opened as part of the project. The centre describes the sea trout life history and the recent population decline in western Please pop in to the visitor centre if you can and browse. It is important that people appreciate the rich biodiversity of our rivers and lochs and how the sea trout fits in. Staff will be posting information on our activities and latest data from the trap throughout the summer. If the staff are available they will be happy to answer any questions, listen to your comments and hear any news you may have on sea trout elsewhere. If you see us at work in the Glen we will be happy to explain what we're up to. An annual project report outlining the progress of the Shieldaig project is available from the visitor centre. If you cannot get to see us please download our annual report (details below). Where to find the project: The Shieldaig Sea Trout Visitor Centre is located approximately one mile from Shieldaig village. The entrance is sign-posted on the minor road to Applecross about 100m from the junction with the Shieldaig/Lochcarron road. There is visitor parking in front of the Centre. Opening hours: 09.30 – 16.30 Mon-Fri. April – October. Other times by arrangement. Contact Who to contact: The project biologist is http://www.frs-scotland.gov.uk/Delivery/Information_resources/information_resources_view_documents.aspx?resourceId=31140 |
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