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Post by earnfisher on Apr 17, 2015 9:04:28 GMT
Just wondering if there are any ideas on how to improve the rivers run of fish. As a committee member of the River Earn Improvement Association we are looking for ideas on how to improve the runs of fish. There has been a suggestion on building a fish ladder at the first dam the fish encounter. Any more. Thanks. Bob
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burnie
Active Member
Posts: 1,183
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Post by burnie on Apr 17, 2015 10:35:41 GMT
I believe the Esks board are improving the spawning grounds, the Rotal Burn being one of them.
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deedon
Active Member
Posts: 320
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Post by deedon on May 7, 2015 14:49:15 GMT
Habitat improvements are always helpful. I have seen several burns where juvenile salmon populations have increased after a good clean up the water and banks.
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Post by earnfisher on May 8, 2015 8:54:06 GMT
We are lucky in having a member Derek T? who has a squad of persons clearing the spawning burns but my problem is that the goosanders are getting more food there fore bigger broods. Bob
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Post by sinkingtip on May 8, 2015 20:29:37 GMT
Forming a good working relationship with the bankside farmers / landowners.
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fredo
Active Member
Posts: 1,095
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Post by fredo on May 9, 2015 8:01:28 GMT
Habitat improvements are essential. They are the most important aspect of fisheries management. However, they are only one part of it. The Dee is an example of what happens when you concentrate on that one aspect of fisheries management and neglect everything else such as predator control. I remember the river director ridiculing me years ago for my preferred "scatter gun" approach to river management.... Imagine crowing about removing an old groyne instead of concentrating on putting more fish in the river! Anyway. From what I have read, it may be that the Earn is now suffering from shallowing up in the lower river due to the hydro aspect of the river? Rather than regular floods to shift the gravel out to sea, the gravel is now getting deposited in the lower reaches. Factor in a huge predator problem and even beavers, none of which are easy to remedy, then it is no wonder the Earn is stuggling. Ho is the Earn performing relative to the Tay?
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Post by earnfisher on May 10, 2015 9:18:44 GMT
Another problem that the lower river has is the large number of otters that stay there. You see at least one each time you are out and the sand banks are covered with there foot prints. Bob
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burnie
Active Member
Posts: 1,183
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Post by burnie on May 10, 2015 11:30:25 GMT
I do hope you are not blaming Otters for the demise of a river, I think it goes a whole lot deeper than that.
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Post by earnfisher on May 10, 2015 12:21:48 GMT
No one is blaming otters for the demise of the fish. There are many reasons for the loss of fish. To my way of thinking if trout/grayling/perch/eels/lampreys/fly life and certain birds like dippers/grey wagtails have also disappeared then there is something wrong with the river. One of the biggest killers of fish in low warm water is the freshwater lice. Bob
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