The Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB), the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) and Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST) are disassociating themselves from the conclusions of a major new Scottish Government report on restoring depleted wild salmon and sea trout stocks in the west Highlands and Islands.


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I am astonished that the Eminent Scientists yet again allow the Scottish Government to dictate what they write.When will they decide 'enough is enough' and tell the truth.A truth that everyone else already acknowledges,points the finger at marine fish farms.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Jim

I have just spoken to Orri Vigfusson of NASF about this and hope to get some written comments next day or so. He will obviously have some interesting observations regarding what is clearly a very controversial report.

Richard

Hey, our government have just spent millions (yes millions) re introducing beavers to the west coast of Scotland on the pretext that there are no salmonids in the area to worry about! They aint now gonna help to increase the populations are they!?
regards
bert

Fish & Fly have received the following response to the report from the Scottish Government re wild salmon stocks from their good friend Orri Vigfusson Chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund.


"After years of trying to persuade Scotland’s civil servants and their advisers to face up to their repeated failures to support and improve their country’s wild salmon and trout resources I find their latest report desperately depressing.

In suggesting that the Tripartite Working Group has concluded that nothing can currently be done to restore the wild stocks of the west Highland's and the Hebrides they are clearly indicating that they have no intention to do anything that might conflict with the interests of commercial salmon farming.

This comes as no surprise to NASF. We have tried and tried without success to get the government to honour its obligations and adopt the ICES advice to end the continuing damage that mixed-stock salmon netting is doing to Scottish salmon stocks. It is just not prepared to risk offending the commercial sector.

In pretending in this latest report that there is no compelling evidence that sea lice produced by fish farms are a primary cause of the loss of wild salmon and sea trout stocks these officials are again demonstrating that when their policies are under threat their reaction is to behave like ostriches. They must certainly have buried their heads very deeply in the sand if they can ignore all the scientific evidence that incriminates fish farming."

Orri Vigfusson, Chairman
North Atlantic Salmon Fund

This is a different argument to the salmon farming operations, which we all believe is the primary cause of decline through lice infestation of smolts. Lets concentrate on one issue at a time, which one? and whom to we lobby regarding said issue?
regards
bert.

Admin should alert every member to the current petition being raised by the salmon and trout association re the conclusions and indifference of our government to this report.
some members view the sta with a certain indifference, but they are certainly now, doing more than most to make government aware of anglers feelings and voices.
please highlight this petition on our site and forward to EVERY relevant forum site, and maybe, just maybe our combined voices will be heard.
regards
bert


Subject: FISH FARM PETITION - URGENT
Importance: High

Dear All,


The Salmon and Trout Assoc have launched a petition to demand that
the Scottish Government relocate some west coast salmon farms from
the migratory routes of wild salmon and sea trout.

Please, please, please!!!! SIGN THIS PETITION - it will take less
than a minute of your time and you can do so online by clicking the
following link:

http://www.salmon-trout.org/save_petition.asp

Please can you also forward this e-mail to ANYONE you know who cares
about the dreadful plight of west coast salmon and sea trout.

We need many thousands of signatures if we are to take this to the
Petitions Committee and force the Scottish Government to finally face
up to their responsibilities and save Scotland's west coast fish from
the ravages of fish farm sea lice and escapees.

Thank you and Tight Lines!