POACHING
Please report any poaching or suspicious activity to River Irvine District Bailiffs on
07563 564 481
OR
Police at IRVINE 01294 404 400.
VANDALISM
Please report any vandalism or suspicious activity on our River system which you have witnessed direct to;
POLICE SCOTLAND at Irvine 01294 404 400
POLLUTION
Members are advised to follow the link to ART and read Stuart Brabb’s blog on various incidents. A full outline of actions is listed and will be followed through to ART also – who will keep an eye on the situation.
Members are also requested to report pollution incidents to Club officials immediately, or contact:-
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Mr. Roy Izzard
Tel:- 01292 294 000
Region H.Q.
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ESCAPEE FARMED SALMON – Advice from Ayrshire Rivers Trust
IDENTIFICATION
The farmed Salmon are often identifiable because of deformed or shortened features such as their fins, gill covers and snouts.
Their skin pigmentation can be heavier with more spots than are usual on wild salmon.
WHAT TO DO
Anglers catching what are obvious farmed salmon are asked to report directly to AYRSHIRE RIVERS TRUST and supply as much information as possible. Where & when caught, a photograph, scale sample and, if possible, skin tissue (DNA).
It is recommended that the fish is despatched humanely but DO NOT EAT THE SALMON – as it may have been treated with chemicals – or vaccinated – as a matter of course during the production stage.
Ayrshire Rivers Trust, Donald Hendrie Building, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW.
Phone: 01292 737300 www.ayrshireriverstrust.org
Here’s a link to a video made of a farmed Salmon caught on the River Irvine during the first week of September 2020. These farmed Salmon appear to be in good condition and, at a quick glance, are difficult to distinguish from our usual wild Salmon.
This video, produced by ART and showing the Irvine caught fish, shows what to look for.
If you do catch one of these farmed fish, ART can confirm that it will be exempt from the Salmon Conservation regulations that were introduced in 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwKwPv1yGBM&t=2s
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Illegal Coastal Netting
Illegal netting gangs are targeting Bass and Mullet from the local beaches. Their nets may also take salmon and sea trout which are destined for Rivers Irvine, Annick and Garnock.
[Historically, the Lomond club (LLAIA) found it necessary to defend the Gareloch coastal area fishings to a high degree. Their area was being netted with little fixed nets – supposedly for Bass or Mullet – and the salmon and sea trout suffered accordingly.]
Verbal reports of this type of netting are heard often for our coastal approaches.
Please contact Marine Scotland on 03002 448220 if you see any activity of this kind around our estuary.
For all other wildlife crimes 101 or 999 still stands.
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CATCH AND RELEASE
Dreghorn Angling Club waters Vz. Rivers Irvine and Annick are designated Category 3 by Marine Science Scotland therefore ALL Salmon must be released whether unharmed or not.
Members are also encouraged to return all sea-trout to the river and to kill no more than two Brown Trout per day.
LANDING NETS
Members are reminded that:-
“Only Knotless mesh Landing nets may be used. Gaffs and Tailers are illegal and consequently banned”
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Dreghorn Angling Club 