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Galloway Fisheries Trust ~  
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  Introduction ~
  
 
Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT), formerly West Galloway Fisheries Trust, was the first fisheries trust to be established within Scotland. The Trust was launched in 1989 by four District Salmon Fishery Boards (DSFBs) in southwest Scotland, with a remit to administer the Rivers Luce, Bladnoch, Cree and Fleet. Since then, as a result of co-operation and enthusiasm between the Trust, fishery interests and others involved with the rivers which it manages, the Trust has expanded considerably both its responsibilities and the area which it serves.
                             
 
Rivers which today fall within the area administered by the Trust now also include all of those situated on the Scottish side of the Solway Firth (Esk, Annan, Nith, Kirkcudbrightshire Dee and Urr). The Trust is also actively involved in the management of many of the region's stillwaters. As the Trust's responsibilities have changed, it has expanded from serving only the interests of salmon and now actively works to conserve all of the fish populations in Galloway, including coarse fish populations. The aim of the GFT is to restore and maintain aquatic biodiversity in Galloway by means of practical, responsible and sustainable approaches to land, water and fishery management, based on sound science, for the benefit of the community as a whole.
 
                             
  River Dee (Kirkcudbright) DSFB  
 
The GFT has maintained an affiliate membership arrangement with the River Dee (Kirkcudbright) District Salmon Fisheries Board since 1998. This membership has ensured that the RD(K)DSFB receives extensive, pertinent advice on various aspects of the management of the aquatic and riparian environment and also secures the services of the GFT in respect of detailed survey work and wider representation. Furthermore, this formalised arrangement allows the completion of fieldwork to develop the management strategies of the river.
                             
 
 
Data collection is undertaken to the highest standards. The GFT is a partner in the Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre, an initiative involving the other Scottish Fishery Trusts and others, including the Scottish Executive Freshwater Laboratory, The Tweed Foundation, The Spey Research Trust, The Tay Foundation and the River Conon District Salmon Fishery Board. The electrofishing and habitat surveys undertaken by GFT have been completed to the standards required by the partners of the SFCC and recorded using the formats agreed by this group. The GFT annually undertakes an electrofishing and habitat survey throughout the Dee catchment. This provides data on changes within salmonid populations, fish densities, habitat changes, the success of stocking programmes and many other factors.
 
                             
 
At the present time, the GFT has been working closely with the RD(K)DSFB on a salmon hatchery project which will provide young fish for restocking the river. The GFT is an ENTRUST registered body and has had the salmon hatchery project approved as being eligible for landfill tax credits. Scottish Power have agreed to provide the funding through landfill tax credits. Following the completion of the leasing agreements, it is anticipated that the hatchery construction should begin this summer, with the first eggs being laid down in 2005. As well as undertaking the salmon hatchery project, the GFT also interprets the information provided by the fish counter at Tongland Dam for the RD(K)DSFB. Recent work has been carried out to improve video validation facilities. Habitat enhancement work is also being carried out on the Knocknairling Burn, with the planting of 250 deciduous trees. For further information on the projects that the Trust is currently involved in on the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee, please see the most recent Board Report.
 
 
                             
 
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