Research

The Nith Catchment Fishery Trust is responsible for researching fisheries within the Nith catchment and is involved with a number of projects to gain more detailed knowledge specific areas of fisheries interest. These include long term monitoring of juvenile salmonid populations, genetic surveys and national projects such as the Celtic Sea Trout Project.

Surveys

The Trust is responsible for monitoring the health of juvenile salmonid populations within the Nith catchment and conducts electrofishing surveys to assertain the densities of salmonids in various rivers throughout the catchment. This data enables decisions to be made regaiding future management strategies for both the Trust and the Board. Other species of freshwater fish such as eels, lampreys and brown trout are also monitored.

Genetic Sampling

The Board and the Trust are part of the FASMOP (Focusing Atlantic Salmon Management on Populations) Project. This project is a partnership between RAFTS, Marine Scotland, DSFB’s and Trust throughout Scotland.  As part of this project, the Board and Trust is taking genetic samples from juvenile salmon throughout the catchment. These small fin samples are then sent off for analysis where the DNA is extracted and the results are analysed. The data can then be used to determine the different genetic groups of breeding salmon within the Nith catchment. This information will help to improve our management techniques and strategies, giving us a greater ability to conserve and enhance salmon stocks throughout the Nith catchment.