Its raining again! While the wet last few months has been good for the fish, the high flows continues to hamper us from finishing off this seasons fieldwork. When ever water levels drop we are out at the moment. Wet days are spent writing up reports, analysing data, responding to consultations, writing grant applications, etc. Angela has been busy sorting out Dinner Auction stuff too - so beware if you haven't paid for your lots yet she will be in touch very soon! Here are a few pictures to show what we have been doing outdoors in the last couple of weeks.

Dalbeattie Primary School managed to catch the best of the day on their tour of Tongland Power Station and Dam this morning. A few from the class were joining us for the second time, having recently completed their salmon in the classroom project at the end of August as part of the Dalbeattie Eco Committee.

Last week the Scottish Government announced details of the proposed river categories for the 2018 season. Some improvements have been made to the Conservation Limits (CL) model for next season which are explained in the follow link: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00524732.pdf For specific Solway river data and more explanation why rivers have been given their categories see this link: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00524595.pdf For the Galloway rivers the proposed river categories for the 2018 season are: LUCE - category 2 BLADNOCH - category 3 (was category 2 in 2017) CREE - category 1 WATER OF FLEET - category 3 KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE DEE - category3 URR - category 2 On category 3 rivers there is a requirement for anglers to return all rod caught salmon. The Scottish Government consultation on the proposed gradings for the 2018 season is now open and closes on Friday 13 October 2017 - please do respond to this as it is important to ensure the categories are as accurate as possible.. GFT will be submitting a response once we have examined the supporting information properly. Initial thoughts are that the Bladnoch egg target seems to be high compared to some other local rivers.

RIVER CREE DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD NOTICE OF ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING and MEETING OF QUALIFIED PROPRIETORS TO BE HELD ON THE 25TH OCTOBER 2017 AT 6.30 PM AT THE BELTED GALLOWAY NEWTON STEWART The following matters will be considered:- 1. The Audited Accounts and Annual Report of the Board. The Annual Report will in turn contain a summary of what the Board have done in carrying out their statutory functions in the year to 30th September 2017 and what they propose to do in carrying out those functions in the following year. 2. A question and answer session including a consideration of matters proposed for consideration by members of the public. The meetings are open to the public. In the case of the Annual Public Meeting, members of the public can submit matters to be considered at the meeting in writing or by email to the Clerk at either of the addresses below. An Agenda will be publicised on the Board’s website (rivercreedistrictsalmonfisheryboard.com) prior to the meeting. MATTHEW J PUMPHREY CLERK PRIMROSE & GORDON SOLICITORS 1 NEWALL TERRACE DUMFRIES DG1 1LN EMAIL – enquiries@primroseandgordon.co.uk

VACANCY AT GALLOWAY FISHERIES TRUST (FIXED TERM MATERNITY COVER) Maternity Cover is required from October 2017 until May 2018 (8 months) for a Fisheries Biologist Post. This full time, fixed term post would suit someone with a Fisheries background with an interest in freshwater ecology and conservation. Closing date for applications is 9am 25th September 2017. For further information please use the link below: http://www.gallowayfisheriestrust.org/fisheries-trust-news-article.php?nID=235

The River Urr crossing was just completed before the river was too high! For more information on what has been going on with the GNI Gas Pipeline see our website news http://www.gallowayfisheriestrust.org/fisheries-trust-news-article.php?nID=234

Finally water flows were low enough for most of this week to get caught up with some more electrofishing. When we could we had two teams out across Galloway and managed to completed electrofishing as listed below. Summary of findings will be posted later. - River Dee (below Glenlochar Barrage to advise on protecting salmon stocks during planned maintenance work) - Palnure Burn (6 sites looking at wild salmon stocks) and a stocked site on the Kirriemore Burn (Minnoch tributary) - Luce / Tarf (monitoring construction of Kilgallioch Windfarm and recent works at railway water crossings) - River Urr (checking on wild salmon fry numbers on main river) - River Tarff - (checking on success of a fish barrier removal) - River Urr / Milton Burn - (fish rescues ahead of dam and over pumping to lay gas pipeline under river) With regard to the last item, on Thursday four GFT staff caught and moved 2103 fish from the work area on the River Urr (572 salmon fry/parr, 52 eels, 869 stone loach, 574 minnows, 16 sticklebacks, 18 trout, 2 lamprey). The river will be dammed with sand bags and the river water over pumped (16 pumps in total) so the pipe can be laid in the dry. The work will take place over a few days and should be finished early next week.

To those of you that attended our Dinner Auction at Lochinch Castle on Saturday night, we hope you had a fantastic evening! Ourselves, Marie Curie and Combat Stress would like to thank everybody involved: from those of you that make the evening possible by donating the wide range of lots you see in the catalogue - 111 in total this year - to the caterers, auctioneer and of course, hosts at Lochinch Castle for providing such a wonderful venue! Many of you may also have supported the event by providing a cash donation or sponsorship, to which we are very grateful. The Dinner Auction takes place every two years and is hugely valuable to all three charities involved. Over the next few weeks, Angela will be hoping to gather in outstanding payments so that we can bring you a final total from the evening......watch this space! In the meantime, here are a few pictures from a wonderful evening.

We have had anglers raising concerns that quite a few salmon they are catching are showing bad cases of 'red vent syndrome'. One angler on the Urr has had 7 grilse/salmon so far this season and all have had signs of red vent syndrome (he supplied the 2 pictures attached from different fish). Another Luce angler has had 6 salmon and she reports that two had very bloody / inflamed vents. These problems are caused by a small round nematode parasite called Anisakis, which are only a few mm wide and up to 200mm long when uncoiled. Their larvae will live in the tissues within the vent. Microscopically, changes include epidermal erosion, scale loss, encapsulation, severe dermatitis, inflammation and hemorrhaging, which all contribute towards the red / bloody appearance of the vent externally. It is reported that there is no evidence that the host fish will experience any increased mortality or problems at spawning time. It is normally found in salmon just returning from the sea and healing will occur once in freshwater. We would be interested to hear from other local anglers regarding whether the salmon they are catching are showing similar 'red vent' issues or not. Any pictures would be appreciated as we do plan to report these concerns to Marine Scotland.

Last week was wet yet again! On Friday water levels fell enough to get a survey team out on the Black Burn (and tributaries) to complete the post-construction monitoring at Airies Wind Farm. These surveys are important to ensure the surrounding construction work has not damaged water quality, fish populations or their habitats. When we undertake monitoring surveys we sometimes identify problems and in these cases we provide guidance on mitigation works required to rectify the situation. It is good to report that no problems were found at Airies. The culverts on site now are an improvement compared to the old ones which will help trout access further up the watercourses. We had a surprise on Friday when a mink swimming through one of electrofishing sites ended up getting caught in a hand net! It wasn't very happy and quickly escaped!

Well done to the 31 adults and 8 juniors who took part in yesterday's Kirkcowan Fishing Competition. No salmon made the returns this year and the winning fish was a 19lb pike caught by William Salfenmoser upon Dalreagle. Paul Ryman took 2nd for six trout and Best Bag went to Fred Norman for four pike. In the Junior competition, Conal Sinclair won with two trout and two pike, Finlay Roger took 2nd with four pike and Abbie Ribbens, 3rd with two pike. Many thanks to all the sponsors of prizes, beat owners who donated use of their waters, the McBains at the Craighlaw Arms for hosting the draw, prize giving and providing a terrific buffet, Kirkcowan Angling Club and Colin Richardson for organisational help and sponsoring the Junior prizes, Sharpes of Aberdeen and Jonny Haley, Dick Scott, Andrew Gladstone and Sir Michael Wigan from the Bladnoch DSFB for providing prizes. The winner of the Sharpes fly rod in the £5 Board was Matthew Gordon. Thank you to all who competed and supported the competition which has raised £591 for the GFT. Terrific effort...see you next year!

Some of the fantastic prizes we have on offer this Saturday at the Kirkcowan Fishing Competition. Thank you to all the local businesses that have donated towards adult and junior prizes, the tombola and the £5 board. Sharpe's of Aberdeen have been particularly generous by supplying a fabulous trout fly rod worth £135 that will go 1st prize in the £5 board. If anyone would like to take a square (for £5) on the £5 board, please let us know....numbers 1-50 are available. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you around 08.30 on Saturday for draw of beats at the Craighlaw Arms in Kirkcowan. Entry £7 adult/£3 junior...what a bargain :)