River Lochy

Utilising the Lochy’s superb wild restoration hatchery near Glenfinnan and assisted by the local fish-farm company Marine Harvest, Jon and his team now operate the largest indigenous smolt rearing operation in the country.

Smolt Rearing

Our hatchery operation delivers the biggest smolt program in Scotland and is on course to expand. This could mean up to 100,000 smolts released annually.

What could this mean to the potential catch returns in the coming years?

This is never easy to predict, with so many influencing factors, however, if we base our projections on what we have witnessed in 2010, by way of returning adults from hatchery smolts, then the graph (see bottom image to the right) maybe representative of what we could expect. Based on a current 5yr average of 400+ salmon, this would almost double our catch by 2014.

The hatchery also produces fish for 9 other rivers, having pioneered special sea trout and salmon ‘captive broodstock’ programmes for key endangered rivers. Two other smolt programmes are also being set up currently for other rivers in the region.

Sea Lice

A key feature of the current restoration plan is working with the fish farm industry to ensure that sea lice and escapes are kept under strict control. It is particularly vital that there are no sea lice in the estuary in the spring when the small and vulnerable smolts go to sea and Jon is heavily involved in the various initiatives to try and ensure that this can be achieved. The politics involved in the relocation of key fish farms is also a fundamental part of the workload.

Predators

All predators — particularly seals, goosanders, rainbow trout, mink and, of course, poachers — can all have a severe impact on numbers of returning fish and the team are constantly vigilant for these threats. A full range of licences are held to control these predators and at least 5 warranted bailiffs patrol the catchment 24hrs to protect against poaching.

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