Sulwath Connections

Esk Riparian Management

Partner:

• Galloway Fisheries Trust

The Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT) is overseeing a project initiated by the Esk and Liddle Improvements Association (ELIA) on the Scottish side of the Border Esk. 

GFT and ELIA have highlighted four significant barriers to fish movement on some smaller tributaries of the Border Esk. The aim is to ease migratory fish passage over these obstructions; this includes eels, lamprey species, salmon and sea trout. All these migratory species are offered various levels of protection (some legislative) and are acknowledged as important species in a European biodiversity context.  

 

In recent years concerns have been raised UK wide about the decline in the numbers of sea trout returning from sea to spawn.  Sea trout are well known for utilising the smaller sized watercourses of a river catchment for spawning - often these are overlooked in favour of carrying out habitat enhancement works on larger, more significant watercourses.  Barriers to migration offer a very good value for money option when carrying out habitat enhancement works - opening up previously inaccessible habitat to provide more space for fish to spawn.  Easing fish passage over problematic obstacles is what we are aiming to do on the Border Esk catchment and by targeting the smaller watercourses we aim to help the plight of sea trout in particular.  

 

All sites in question are located under or very near road crossings. Currently specialised engineers are visiting each site and drawing up detailed plans for works to take place this summer. Works are likely to include the fitting of baffles to problematic bridge aprons and the deepening downstream launch pools.  In addition to the easing of fish passage, some bankside fencing to enhance riparian habitats in key areas will be undertaken.  This fencing is to be targeted at degraded riparian habitats where livestock access has caused overgrazing and poaching, leading to exacerbated erosion and bankside collapse.  Bankside fencing will help the banks recover, re-vegetate and stabilise.  

 

The sites we are working on include the Glenzier Burn, Hagg Burn, Un-named tributary of the Boyken Burn, Whiteshield Burn and Billholm Burn.