Spey-Fishery-Board-Annual-Report-2013-Web

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the Act aims to establish a process of River BasinManagement Planning to achieve “Good Ecological Status” of freshwater, groundwater and coastal water bodiesby 2027. For Heavily Modified Water Bodies (e.g. those impacted by water diversion for the production ofhydro electricity) such as parts of the River Spey, the aim is to achieve “Good Ecological Potential”.SEPA divided Scotland into eight sub-basins, where catchments of similar types are grouped and managedcollectively. The Spey is included in the North East sub-basin, which also includes the Rivers Deveron, Ythan,Don and Dee. The SFB is part of the North East Area Advisory Group which has developed an AreaManagement Plan. This in turn forms part of Scotland’s first River Basin Management Plan (RBMP), whichwas approved by Scottish Ministers in December 2009 and will conclude in 2015. The second RBMP will runfrom 2015 - 2021, with the third and final Plan implemented between 2021 - 2027.Preliminary work by SEPA on the RBMP involved the categorisation of all water bodies throughout Scotland asgood, moderate or poor, in order to prioritise the work necessary to implement the WFD. The SFB hascontinued to dispute the moderate category awarded to parts of the upper River Spey, which it believes shouldbe categorised as poor due to the significant levels of water impoundment, diversion and abstraction and theeffects that these have had upon the ecology of the area. SEPA has now revised a number of thesecategorisations, with some Spey Water Bodies (e.g. the River Markie, just above Spey Dam) now categorised aspoor.In 2013 the UK’s Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG), of which SEPA is a member, issued revised guidancefor the implementation of the WFD. This has recommended that maintained elevated flows in water bodies (e.g.the compensation flows in the Rivers Tromie and Truim) are not ideal for all fish species. The revised UKTAGguidance is based upon flow variability and a “building block” approach, with site specific informationincorporated. Furthermore, an adaptive management approach should also be adopted, with flows varied if theoriginal proposals are found to be unsuitable. The interpretation of this by SEPA is critical to the outcome ofSSE’s application to vary the Tummel Scheme CAR Licence (see section 1.6.2).The SFB will continue to work closely with SEPA on the implementation of the WFD as it approaches theconclusion of the first RBMP and development of the second Plan.Table 1. Statutory Responsibilities of the Spey Fishery Board1. Provide fisheries protection;2. Set Salmon rod fishery season (11 th February – 30 th September);3. Set Sea Trout rod fishery season (15 th March – 30 th September);4. Police weekly rod fishery close times (midnight Saturday – midnight Sunday);5. Police the purchase and sale of illegally-caught or unseasonable fish;6. Ensure fish passage over obstructions to migration;7. Protect juvenile fish and spawning redds;8. Regulate the movement and/or introduction of adults, juveniles and ova.12