RIVER LOSSIE DISTRICT SALMON FISHERIES BOARD - PDF document

1 RIVER LOSSIE DISTRICT SALMON FISHERIES BOARD MINUTES OF MEETING held at Kellas Trout Fishery on 4 th March 2014 at 3:45 p.m. Present Duncan Dunbar - Nasmith (Chair) , Seymour Monro, Frans Jurgens , F r e d Rhind , Tomas Christie, David Houldsworth, Charlie Ger rie, Seymour Monro . In attendance Bob Laughton, FNLFT , Valerie Wardlaw, LDSFB (Minutes) , Item Action 1 Welcome and Apologies : D. Dunbar - Nasm ith welcomed all participants. Apologies from Sarah Tyson. 2 Minutes of Last Boar d Meeting held 3 rd December 2013 Amend minutes to indicate initials under Actions for Bob Laughton to be BL and not RL Approved . VW 3 Matters Arising The Board noted the sad death of Lady Margaret Tennant. 4 Financial Proprietors will be invoiced for the second instalment of the Annual Assessments this month . The major expenditure has been the half yearly contribution to the FNLFT. VW will prepare a draft budget for the June meeting to enable the Board to set the Assessment for 2014/15. VW will continue undertaking the bookke eping for the Board. Bookkeeping and Payroll is being outsourced for the FNLFT, FDSFB and Nairn DSFB. VW VW VW 5 Bailiffing VW has requested information on patrols carried out on the Lossie from Albert Duffus , Findhorn Bailiff. The River Watch meet ing prior to the Board meeting was cancelled as it clashed with the Bailiff Conference, so there were no updates from the Bailiffs or Wildlife Officers. Sean MacLean is continuing to manage mink control and attended the Elgin AA AGM. VW 6 Wind Farms Br own Muir Windfarm is holding public exhibitions about their new proposals in March: http://www.brownmuirwindfarm.com/news/public - exhibitions - march - 2014/ BL has completed m onitoring for Rothes Windfarm under contract and reported no effects on fish populations. BL has also undertaken preliminary contract monitoring work for Meikle Hill Windfarm. 7 Catch Returns 2013 VW circulated updated catch and release figures for th e 2013 season 2 (see attached). 8 Fisheries Trust Report  BL reported the mink project continues until the end of March and further funding may be available. One mink caught at Burghead and sightings around Spynie. Please report sightings a.s.a.p. to BL as the project is successfully trapping mink soon after sightings.  BL is delivering school sessions at Elgin Academy and Miltonduff Primary.  BL has nearly completed the Lossie electrofishing survey and will circulate once it is finished.  BL will be prioritising work on increasing fish access on the Linkwood Burn in partnership with distilleries in the coming year .  SM stated the FNLFT has reduced the Trust’s deficit substantially for this year due to contract works. However there will be an ongoing income gap due to the ceasing of government funding, and the Trust may have to ask the LDSFB for a slightly increased contribution next year. ALL BL BL 9 INNS Control BL has mapped Himalayan Balsam & Japanese Knotweed around Kellas. The infestation is beyond the c apabilities of the FNLFT and volunteers to tackle. BL will arrange to meet with FJ & Eddie Gormanley to investigate other treatment options. SM plans to raise the issue at higher levels in RAFTS and the Scottish Government. B L /FJ/EG SM 10 Elgin Fl ood Alleviation Scheme FR is meeting with Morrison’s for an update on access for the coming season. He hopes substantially more areas will be accessible. The works are on target for completion in 2015. FR 11 Implications of Aquaculture Bill  Register o f Financial Interest forms have been circulated to all Board members for completion and return to VW. This should be added to meeting agendas as a standing item to record any changes.  Complaints Procedure circulated and approved, VW will send it to the Sc ottish Government and put it on the website.  Annual Meeting of Qualified Proprietors will be held immediately after the Board meeting on 9 th September.  Triennial Elections will be held after the Board meeting and before the AGM on the 2 nd of December 2015. VW will notify all proprietors about both meetings and publicise them on the website and inform the Scottish Government. ALL VW VW ALL ALL VW 13 Correspondence VW has completed an ASFB/RAFTS 2014 Review for the Lossie Board and the ASFB/RAFTS Memb ers Annual Survey - please contact VW if you would like copies. 3 14 AOCB SM, BL & VW are attending the RAFTS Conference on the 20 th March and will report back to the Board. Roger Knight has received the Seal Licence and will contact VW to allocate the Lossie quota. The Board will be required to authorise transfer of the Lossie quota to the Spey or Findhorn Boards. SM/BL/ VW 15 Date of future meeting s  9 th September 2014 Board Meeting at 3.45pm followed by Annual Meeting of Qualified P roprietors at 4.45pm  2 nd December 201 4 Board Meeting at 3.45pm followed by Triennial Elections and Annual Public Meeting at 4.45pm A ll at Kell a s Trout Fishery.