Ythan District
Fishery Board
Board Activity
Ythan
District Fishery Board Restocking and associated works
1992-2006
|
The
Board has been involved either directly (for restocking
and some restoration work) or indirectly (sourcing
volunteers and encouraging angling groups and landowners
to restore the watercourses) in an effort to improve
the River Ythan for fish and fishing for many years.
This list illustrates some of what we have done.
We
have included mink control. These non native predators
not only feed on juvenile fish but also water voles
which were once common in Scotland are now very
rare but still present as potentially important
populations within the Ythan catchment. The fact
that these populations have survived may be partly
attributed to the mink trapping undertaken by the
Board which is now involved through North East
LBAP, Aberdeen University, SNH and the Deveron
District Fishery Board in a more targeted approach
to mink control for water vole protection. |
|
| 1992
|
|
| Salmon
fry from the Connon |
|
| Wells
of Ythan |
7,000 |
| Ebrie
burn |
5,000 |
| Sessnie
burn |
5,000 |
| Modley
burn |
8,000 |
| Bronie
burn |
5,000 |
| Sonach
burn |
3,000 |
Total |
33,000 |
|
1993
|
|
| No
restocking but good natural spawning in 1992/93 |
|
1994
|
|
No
restocking because of a failure within the Connon
hatchery
33 mink caught
large spate in early September – flow rate rise from 24m galls per day
to 1.8 billion in less than a week. |
|
|
| 1995 |
|
| Salmon
fry from the Connon |
|
| Raxton
burn |
20,000 |
| Little
Water |
10,000 |
| Wells
of Ythan |
40,000 |
| Black
burn |
10,000 |
| Bronie
burn |
20,000 |
| Ebrie
burn |
20,000 |
Total |
120,000 |
|
| 27
mink caught |
|
|
1996
|
|
| Salmon
ova planting in April |
|
| Catto
burn |
6,000 |
| Ebrie
burn |
15,000 |
| Modley
burn |
3,000 |
| Shallowplough |
3,000 |
Total |
27,000 |
|
|
Survey
of the river and its tributaries undertaken by SCP
June/July. This provides data on the suitability
of certain parts of each section of the catchment
for juvenile and spawning fish and the populations
of fish in those areas.
Ban on the use of shrimp and prawns as bait within the District.
26 mink caught |
|
|
1997
|
|
| Fed
Salmon fry from Inverness Fish Farm |
|
| Keithfield
burn |
10,000 |
| Raxton
burn |
10,000 |
| Yowlie
burn |
10,000 |
| Sessnie
burn |
15,000 |
| Fordoun
burn |
15,000 |
Total |
60,000 |
|
|
SCP
Volunteers cleared weed growth in Fyvie and Methlick
areas and raked gravels to restore spawning beds.
Also cleared potential restock areas on tributaries.
Obstructions removed on Foveran, Bronie (2) Ebrie and Kelly burns
16 mink trapped |
|
|
| 1998 |
|
Ythan
salmon fed fry via Inverness fish farm
85,000
fry within the main stem of the river
plus fed fry introduced following pollution incidents |
|
| Bronie
burn |
4,000 |
| Fordoun
burn |
4,000 |
| Yowlie
burn |
4,000 |
| Keithfield
burn |
4,000 |
Total |
100,000 |
| |
|
SCP
Volunteers cleared debris etc from the Ebrie burn
and raked gravel beds for improved spawning upstream
of Fyvie and Auchterless and on the Fordoun burn.
Obstruction removed from the river in Ellon and on the Ebrie and Bronie burns. |
|
|
| 1999 |
|
| Sea
Trout fry from Kishorn |
|
| |
|
 |
|
| |
|
| Stonehouse
burn |
4,000 |
| Littlewater
burn |
7,000 |
| Faddenhill
burn |
2,000 |
| Ebrie
burn |
3,000 |
| Sessnie
burn |
3,000 |
| Tifty
burn |
3,000 |
| Seggat |
3,000 |
| Fisherford |
4,000 |
| Kingsford
burn |
4,000 |
| Auchterless |
4,000 |
| Fordoun
burn |
8,000 |
| Wells
of Ythan |
5,000 |
| Whinden,
Fyvie |
4,000 |
Total |
55,000 |
| |
|
| Ythan
Salmon fry via Inverness fish farm |
|
| Bronie
burn |
6,000 |
| Yowlie
burn |
3,000 |
| Kiethfield
burn |
3,000 |
| Raxton
burn |
4,000 |
| Sessnie |
2,000 |
| Ythan
at Auchterless |
12,000 |
Total |
30,000 |
| |
|
Using
our own electro fishing gear purchased in 1998/99
we were able to check up on the progress of previous
re-stocking work and re survey parts surveyed in
1996. Electro fishing becomes part of the usual Board
activity.
Obstruction removed from Crichie burn.
Willows and others cut back on the Littlewater burn.
Fencing of livestock from the watercourse under Countryside Premium Scheme starts
along limited sections of the river (Ythanbank area)
Fish pass installed on Kelly burn at Haddo Country Park.
An auction of donated lots raised £3000 enabled additional sea trout fry
to be purchased as well as a purpose built fish tank and trailer to transport
brood stock and juvenile fish.
16 mink trapped.
Ythan Project Pilot study begins. |
|
|
| 2000 |
|
| Sea
trout from Kishorn fed on at Mill of Elrick, Auchnagatt |
|
| Catto
burn |
3,000 |
| Ebrie
burn |
3,000 |
| Quilquox
burn |
3,000 |
| Sessnie
burn |
3,000 |
| Sauchentree
burn |
3,000 |
| Raxton
burn |
3,000 |
| Keithfield
burn |
3,000 |
Total |
21,000 |
| |
|
There
should have been more but Oil pollution through the
hatchery killed around half of the number.
|
|
| |
|
| Salmon
fry from Kishorn fed on at Mill of Elrick |
|
| Ebrie |
10,000 |
| Shallowplough |
10,000 |
| Stonehouse |
10,000 |
| Kingsford |
10,000 |
Total |
40,000 |
| |
|
During
the Summer Dr Martin O’Grady of the Central
Fisheries Board came over from Eire to advise on
what could be done to improve the Ythan from upstream
of Fyvie to Newburgh. He advocated emphasis on habitat
rather than re-stocking.
Spawning beds restored by water jet method at Methlick with assistance of Dr
David Summers from the Tay District Fishery Board.
14 mink trapped |
|
|
| 2001 |
|
| Sea
Trout ova from Kishorn hatched and fed on at Mill
of Elrick |
|
| Sessnie |
4,000 |
| Stonehouse |
2,000 |
| Fordoun |
10,000 |
| Yowlie |
4,000 |
| Bronie |
4,000 |
| Raxton |
8,000 |
| Keithfield |
6,000 |
Total |
40,000 |
| |
|
Salmon
fry destroyed at Mill of Elrick due to pollution
by pipeline work upstream of the hatchery. Around
45,000 salmon fry of Ythan parentage lost and a successful
claim laid against Transco
An aerial video of the river was made.
2 obstructions on the Fordoun burn at Fyvie overcome by hard engineering methods.
2 boulder lies created on Haddo water as recommended by Dr O’Grady.
Ythan LIFE bid successful
17 mink trapped |
|
|
| 2002 |
|
| Sea
Trout fry |
|
| Tarty
burn* |
40,000 |
| Keithfield |
20,000 |
| Crichie
burn |
20,000 |
| Ebrie
burn |
52,990 |
| Mill
of Auchedly |
3,000 |
| Stonehouse |
6,000 |
| Littlewater |
18,000 |
| Fordoun |
12,000 |
| Ythan |
12,000 |
Total |
184,000 |
| |
|
*All
destroyed by pollution caused by the collapse of
a pig building at Woodlands farm on 23rd April when
5m litres of pig slurry entered the burn.
Insurers
agreed to meet all costs of restocking (around £35,000)
Because of the ongoing pipeline works and lack of confidence of clean water at
the Mill of Elrick fish farm for keeping brood stock no salmon re-stocking took
place.
2 cases against Nacap BV and Walter Lawrence(Pipeline contractors)resulted in
the companies being fined a total of £30,000 for environmental pollution
after a Guilty plea.
BTCV Volunteers removed rubbish at Fyvie, restored the river bed, made a weir
near the Peath Bridge and removed obstructions on the Bronie burn.
3 mink caught
Ythan LIFE project restored sea trout spawning bed in the Yowlie burn at Tarves
and removed conifers from a riparian corridor at Haddo. |
|
|
| 2003 |
|
| A very dry year with low
water flows throughout the river throughout the Fishing
Season. As a result one of the poorest seasons for
salmon in recent years. Sea Trout numbers remained
good in the estuarial waters. |
|
| Restocking; |
|
| Fed Sea Trout fry were
planted in |
|
| Keithfield Burn |
2,000 |
| Sessnie Burn |
2,000 |
| Fordoun Burn |
2,000 |
| Ythan at Darley, Templand
and Towie (2000 ea) |
6,000 |
| Kelly Burn |
2,000 |
| Youlie Burn |
6,000 |
| Bronie Burn |
10,000 |
| Auchmacoy Burn |
2,000 |
| Forvie Burn |
2,000 |
| Raxton Burn |
4,000 |
| Ebrie Burn |
14,000 |
| Foveran Burn |
8,000 |
| Modley Burn |
10,000 |
| Tarty Burn*
|
178,000 |
Total |
248,000 |
| *Complete restocking of
the entire Tarty Burn using all age classes following
slurry spill in 2002 |
|
| |
|
| Fed salmon Fry of Ythan
parentage were planted in the following locations. |
|
| River Ythan at Inverythan |
3,000 |
| Fordoun Burn |
5,000 |
| Bronie Burn |
5,000 |
| Ebrie Burn |
2,000 |
Total |
15,000 |
| 6 mink caught |
|
| |
|
|
Ythan LIFE Project work and associated river
restoration projects included enlarging the fish pass
on the Kelly Burn at Haddo, fencing livestock out of
the river and providing alternative waterings on the
Littlewater Burn, completion of conifer felling at
Gight. And numerous small tree planting schemes along
the river banks and encouragement for farmers to fence
livestock out of water courses.
|
|
| |
|
|
| 2004 |
|
| |
|
In contrast to 2003 a much
more successful season for salmon on all save the very
lowest sections of the river. In excess of 800 fish
were caught and many have been returned on voluntary
catch and release schemes operated by individual proprietors.
Sea Trout numbers in the Estuary were poor due to water
levels.
Restocking; |
|
| Fed Sea Trout fry were
planted in; |
|
| Laeca Burn (part of the
Water of Cruden) * |
20,000 |
| Foveran Burn |
5,000 |
| Forvie Burn |
5,000 |
| Bronie Burn |
5,000 |
| Youlie Burn |
5,000 |
Total |
40,000 |
| * restocking within a new
section of the burn provided by Stoneyhill Waste Management
who altered the route of the burn. |
|
| |
|
4 mink caught
Ythan LIFE Project and associated river restoration
projects included a fish pass renewal at Cairnfechel
on the Bronie Burn, a new fish pass on the Burn of Sauchentree
at Methlick and renewal of the fish pass on the Fordoun
Burn at Fyvie . (The earlier pass was destroyed by massive
floods in 2002).
The Court Case for the slurry spill which wiped out
all the fish within much of the Tarty Burn
in April 2002
was eventually held on 20th December 2004 with the
farmer pleading guilty. He was fined £20,000.
The burn has recovered and thanks to the insurance
settlement for restocking carried out in 2003 the number
of fish
within the burn is now consistent with expectations.
Sandy Milne the River Superintendent celebrated 30
years of service with The Board. Sandy has personally
planted
more than a million fish in the Ythan and has been
involved in every aspect of The Board’s activities
during his employment.
|
|
| |
|
| 2005 |
|
| |
|
A mixed season due to the level of water which
was low through much of the season producing good
numbers of salmon and sea trout around Ellon but less
upstream. Good early season finnock of which more than
90% were returned. |
|
| Good early season finnock of which more than 90% were
returned. |
|
| |
|
Re-stocking
Sea Trout smoults planted in; |
|
Stonehouse burn |
1,000 |
Little Water |
1,000 |
Burn of Sauchentree |
1,000 |
Youlie |
1,000 |
Bronie |
2,800 |
Tarty |
2,800 |
| Keithfield |
1,200 |
Total |
10,800 |
The new Methlick sewage treatment works replaced a
number of Local Authority septic tank systems which were
fairly ineffective. The new system is a great improvement
and should improve water quality.
The sewage from Newburgh is now pumped to Balmedie and the Newburgh system has
been made redundant.
The sea trout catch in the estuary has been poor. This, in part, may be due to
the increasing seal population. |
|
| |
|
| 2006 |
|
| |
|
Another low water year with a poor upstream catch.
Very good finnock fishing in September/October with
large finnock (over 1lb) caught and released. |
|
| |
|
Re-stocking
Sea Trout smoults |
|
Fordoun |
250 |
Keithfield | |
