 THE
MOST significant conservation project for Atlantic salmon ever undertaken in
Scotland was launched yesterday.
More than £3 million of work will be carried out over four years to improve
conditions for the declining species in eight key rivers.
Deputy minister for the environment Allan Wilson announced the funding
package for the project near Aberdeen by the River Dee one of the rivers
involved in the conservation scheme.
The project, half of which has been funded by the European Commission, will
be co-ordinated by environment agency Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Mr Wilson said the funding package highlighted the importance of Scotland's
rivers and how their quality contributed to the economy, ecology and quality
of life.
The salmon project will involve extensive work to improve habitats and
remove the main threats to the fish, such as extensive cattle grazing areas.
SNH chairman John Markiand said, This funding package will be a big help for
the project partners to carry out much of the major work needed to restore
conditions along the key salmon rivers.
Although Scotland has some of the healthiest Atlantic salmon numbers in the
world, including 80% of the UK population, the catch had declined to
100,000, by 2000 a fifth of 1975 levels.
The new scheme, which will also run at the rivers Spey, Tweed, Tay, South
Esk, Bladnoch, Oykel and Moriston, involves several partner organisations,
including the Association of
Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB), the Forestry Commission and Scottish Hydro
Electric.
The River Dee Salmon Fishery Trust has also benefited from a £150,000
donation by National Grid Transco to carry out habitat improvement work.
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