Project Reports
Here you can find some of the outputs of the scientific investigations Kyle Fisheries has undertaken, as well as links to work we have been involved in.
The Missing Salmon Project
Individual reports for the River Shin and River Oykel are now available to download.
Carron Radio Tracking
Results from the first year of the Carron Radio Tracking project River Carron Tracking Report 2019
Sediment Fingerprinting
The results from the sediment tracking work on the River Shin can be downloaded here.
PIT Tagging on Loch Shin
A summary document of the PIT tagging operations which have taken place on Loch Shin since 2005 can be found here Summary Report of Loch Shin Smolt Trapping and PIT Tagging 2005-2020
Oykel Scale Reading
Between 2013 and 2015 scales were taken from both Juvenile and adult salmon in the Oykel catchment, with a scale reading project to better understand the stock structure. Oykel Scale Reading Report
Scottish River Temperature Monitoring Network
The outputs from the SRTMN have shown the impact of rising temperatures on Scotland's rivers, and some novel outputs such as where tree planting will have the greatest cooling effect on rivers has been produced. The outputs can be found here.
Genetics on Loch Shin
During PIT tagging operations on Loch Shin, fish have been found which have been suspected to be of a farmed origin. Marine Scotland Science conducted a genetic investigation which has subsequently been published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science, and can be accessed for free via this link.
Angling Economic Survey
In 2007 an economic survey was produced which aimed to quantify the contribution of salmon angling to the economy in the Kyle of Sutherland district. Economic Survey
Floy Tagging
During 2016 and 2017 rod caught salmon the the Carron, Oykel and Shin were floy tagged in order to estimate the percentage of fish recaptured. Floy Tagging summary 2016-17
Pearls in Peril
Kyle Fisheries was involved in the Pearls in Peril project, which was a UK-wide project that sought to increase awareness of the freshwater pearl mussel and work with communities, landowners and other stakeholders to restore habitats and ensure a future for this endangered species. a Laymans report can be found here and more information can be found on the PIP website.
FASMOP
The Focusing Atlantic Salmon Management on Populations (FASMOP) project was a Scotland-wide project examining genetic techniques to differentiate Atlantic Salmon populations, and the end result was that Salmon can be assigned to their rivers of origin. A PDF of the report can be accessed here; FASMOP Kyle of Sutherland
Genetic Component to Run Timing
Samples from the Kyle of Sutherland District were included in a study led by Marine Scotland which examined the genetic component of salmon run timing. Around 24% of the variation in run timing was explained by 9 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms. While this only explains some of the variation in run timing, the 9 markers were on a single region of DNA, so it is possible there may be other markers in other regions. In addition, environmental factors may be working with genetic factors to have an effect on a particular trait. The full report can be accessed here.