Fisheries reports positive limestone results – Fisheries Management Scotland

Last week saw the Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT) complete the third phase of their High Cree Limestone Gravel Project.

The Cree headwaters used to support a healthy salmon population, but by the mid 1980’s fish stocks had plummeted here as the water became acidified – the blanket afforestation with Sitka spruce of much of Galloway’s uplands and the lack of buffering (to neutralise the acidity, which kills young salmon stocks) in surrounding soils exacerbating the effects of acid rain falling on the catchment.

It was GFT research, completed with local district salmon fishery boards, which highlighted that acidification was decimating these headwater fish stocks.