Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fisheries Board Catchment Management Plan

Statutory responsibilities of the Kyle of Sutherland Fishery Board

1. The Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fisheries Board (KoSDSFB) was established under the 1860 Salmon Fishery legislation as subsequently amended and presently stated in the Salmon Act 1986 and the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Act 2001. It is empowered under the legislation to take such acts as it considers expedient for the protection, enhancement and conservation of Atlantic salmon and sea trout stocks, and also has a duty to ensure the general protection and enhancement of the fishery (points below).
1. Provide fishery protection
2. Police the purchase and sale of illegally caught and unseasonable fish;
3. Ensure fish passage over obstructions to migrations;
4. Protect juvenile fish and spawning redds;
   
   
2. In addition, the KoSDSFB will endeavour to:
   
   1. Reverse the trend in the decline of adult Atlantic salmon by implementing policies that safeguard and enhance the natural spawning stock throughout the Kyle region.
   2. Conduct habitat, population and migration assessments to guide management strategies.
   3. Encourage good conservation policies to stop over exploitation of salmon at every level but in particular the discreet populations.
   4. Conserve and establish sustainable fisheries for Atlantic salmon and freshwater pearl mussel according to the SAC designations on the River Oykel and Cassley and for common seals in the Dornoch Firth.
   5. Extend fishery awareness by promoting through education and through regular exchange of information the importance of recreational angling to local schools, community and local government.
   6. Raise the profile of the economic, cultural and environmental importance of the five Kyle rivers to the local area among residents and visiting anglers.
   
   
   
3. Catchment and administration boundaries- The water catchment of the Kyle of Sutherland and Dornoch Firth extending eastwards to a line from Tarbat Ness lighthouse to Dornoch cathedral.
   
   
4. Fisheries- the Rivers Carron, Shin, Cassley, Oykel and Evelix are the principle rivers of the Kyle region.
   
   
5. Geology -A dissected plateau underlain by Moinian rocks of semi-pelitic granulites and granite with some schists, gneisses and quartzites. The area is fringed to the east by Old Red Sandstone - mainly sandstones and conglomerates with some shales. Soils in the Kyle of Sutherland basin are of the Arkaig Association formed from drifts derived from the underlying rock. Typically organic in nature, soil types of the watershed range from brown earths to peats.
   
   
6. Hydro-electric Power- Three of the five Kyle rivers, the Carron, Cassley and Shin, are affected by hydro-electric power schemes. The Shin scheme is the most important as it has consistent water flow though the holding capacity of Loch Shin, and this can guarantee an agreed level of water flow. The Carron and Cassley are primarily diversionary schemes, and have limited holding capacity, therefore are unable to supply a consistent summer flow. Scottish & Southern Energy (S&SE) operates and controls the hydro schemes, and we currently enjoy an excellent working relationship with S&SE. They financially support many of the conservation and scientific surveys conducted on the three hydro rivers.