Invasive Species Week starts today!

Invasive Species including Flora and Fauna can and do have a hugely detrimental impact on our native ecosystems.   For us as anglers, unchecked they can cause immense damage to our marine and freshwater habitats and impact our native fish species and thus our sport and recreation. 

We all therefore have a role to play in avoiding the spread of these Invasive Species and the SFCA is committed to the promotion of the Check, Clean, Dry Campaign which is outline below.

The aim of the Invasive Species Week is to raise awareness of Invasive Species, their impact, and what can and is being done to address the associated problems.  To that end, there are lots of events running this weeks that you can get involved in from presentations, virtual seminars and face to face events.  Full details can be found at https://www.nonnativespecies.org/what-can-i-do/invasive-species-week/events/

Check, Clean, Dry Campaign

The Check, Clean, Dry Campaign is designed to help us all to protect our fisheries by stopping the spread of aquatic Invasive Species and Disease

Scotland has a wealth of water bodies and waterways that play host to a variety of plants and animals (including fish).  These in turn help to support a diversity of birds and other wildlife throughout the seasons.

As anglers our sport depends on these complex and often delicately balanced aquatic environments to sustain a healthy population of fish for us to catch.  Invasive aquatic species can have a devastating impact on Scottish plants and animals, they have the potential to alter the balance of an ecosystem as they often grow faster or are more aggressive than our native species. Invasive aquatic species also have the potential to render waterways unusable for fishing, for example invasive plants can choke waters, reducing flow and oxygen levels and even deny access to the water’s edge while the American Signal crayfish can destroy fish eggs and fry and ruin decent fisheries by homing in and feeding on anglers baits.

Animals, plant fragments, eggs and larvae are easily transported from one place to another on boats, equipment, shoes, clothing and other damp places where they can survive for days, if not weeks.  But it is not only invasive non-native plants and animals that can be transported from one water body to another.  Parasites and disease are also easily transported particularly if the conditions are favourable.  Anglers’ nets, particularly keepnets, present one of the most significant risks and the SFCA strongly urges all anglers to adopt the following code of practice to protect the future of our fisheries.

DO follow the Scottish Government’s ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ code

In particular:

DON’T use keepnets to retain fish unless absolutely necessary.

DON’T leave your nets in a stink bag between fishing trips.

DO ensure that you lay out your keepnet and landing net and ensure that they have the chance to dry out completely between uses.

NEVER move fish from one water body to another without statutory consent.

DO spread this message and encourage others to adopt this code.

By carrying out these simple steps when you leave the water and when you get home you can help to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species and disease and keep our fisheries and fish healthy.  For more information visit http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/InvasiveSpecies/Campaign

Tags: Environment, Policy, Protecting Fish