Annan Fishery Management Plan - RAFTS

River Annan DSFB Fisheries Management Plan 2009 – 2014Common Carp Cyprinus carpioCarp were a popular stew pond fish (probably themost popular) but there is no evidence that theCarp population on still waters in the Annancatchment is very old. The earliest confirmedrecord of a stocking was into Castle Loch in the late 70s. Since then thepopularity of Carp as a coarse fish quarry species has lead to populationsspringing up throughout the catchment in still waters. Although they appear tobreed in many of these stillwaters every year, there seems to be little evidence ofthe fry surviving their first winter. Rarely these fish are caught in the river asadults that have almost certainly escaped from one of the Lochs.Bullhead Cottus gobioA small and scarce population of these fish appearsin the Ecclefechan Burn and in the Mein. Thispopulation seems to be extremely rare and onlyabout ten specimens have been turned over by theAnnan DSFB in the last ten years. Although notthought to be native to the Annan they are a named species on the Eden SACand regarded as native. The Eden will have been linked to the Annan severalthousand years ago.Gudgeon Gobio gobioThis diminutive bottom dwelling species isnot extensively widespread in Scotlandbut has established populations in anumber of specific locations including theRiver Clyde. On the Annan the gudgeon can be found on the mid to lower stretchof the main stem river and lower parts of the Kinnel and Ae. In the 19 th centurythe gudgeon was a popular live bait for pike and it is thought likely that this ishow it was introduced to the Annan. In the 17 th century gudgeon pie was apopular delicacy amongst peasant classes so they could also have beenreleased for these reasons. The gudgeon has a naturally limited home range andis active during the summer months.17