A landmark building in Ardgay has been acquired by Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries as its new office headquarters.  Located right in the centre of the village, the building formerly housed the Alladale Stores and the European Nature Trust (for those with long memories it was the well-known Fraser’s Shop). It will now provide much improved space and facilities for all Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries staff; this has recently been restricted to Administrator Audrey Campbell’s office in Bonar Bridge – often referred to as the “broom cupboard”.

Dr Keith Williams, Director of Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries, said: “We anticipate that our new office will in due course become a key focal point for all wild fisheries interests in the area – including both salmon fisheries and trout fisheries – which extend from the outer end of the Dornoch Firth in the east to Ben More Assynt in the west”.

Dr Williams continued: “It is fitting that the organisation responsible for such an important sector of the local economy has an appropriate and centrally located headquarters. A comprehensive study of local angling and angling-related tourism, carried out in 2007, concluded that these activities were worth almost £4m annually to the local economy, supporting 86 full-time equivalent (fte) jobs, which represented 13.7% of all employment in the area. The value of these jobs amounted to £1.68m in wages and salaries annually”.

Dr Williams added: “Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries itself (the umbrella organisation for the Board and Trust) now has four full-time employees (soon to be five) and two seasonal staff. We have a firm policy of spending locally wherever possible, thus supporting other local businesses”.

Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust AGM is on September 25 at 6.30 pm at the new office.