Wester Ross Fisheries Trust

13/03/2026

We are hiring!

We currently have vacancies for two positions:

1. A six-month fixed term contract for a part-time Seagrass Project Officer. Applications by CV and covering letter to [email protected] by 31 March 2026. For further information, please see:
https://www.wrft.org.uk/files/WRFT%20Seagrass%20Project%20Officer%202026%20Job%20description.pdf

2. A six-month Internship, part of the Working With Rivers Scheme. Applications by CV and covering letter to [email protected] by 19th March 2026. For further information, please see:
https://www.wrft.org.uk/files/Working%20with%20Rivers%20Intern%20Job%20Details.pdf

If you have any questions about either of the positions, please contact:

Peter Cunningham (Biologist) [email protected]
Diorbhail Wentworth (Seagrass Project Manager) [email protected]
Sue Ward (Administrator) [email protected]

Thankyou for interest in working with Wester Ross Fisheries Trust to help to support wild fish populations and their habitats.

Please also visit WRFT website for more information about Wester Ross Fisheries Trust

www.wrft.org.uk

19/02/2026

Can you help to look out for signs of herring shoals as they approach spawning grounds again this year?

We are organising a drop-in workshop on Tuesday 24th February at the WRFT office in the Harbour Centre, Pier Road, Gairloch from 4pm to 8pm for anyone interested in helping to look out for gannets, cetaceans and other signs of herring shoals around the Gairloch area.

The photo below was taken on 9th March last year near North Erradale, when there was a humpback whale, two minke whales, many seals, porpoises and seabirds on the water within about 2km. Later in the month, herring eggs were found on the seabed to the south of Loch Gairloch.

At the workshop on 24th February, we will share stories from last year, review methods for finding and recording seabirds and sea mammals.

We will also show some of the video footage of herring spawn on the seabed.

Our aim this year is to encourage and be able to help other people to look for signs of herring and to locate spawning areas. Can you help?

Please contact Peter Cunningham at [email protected] / 07786 836 003 if interested.

Please see more information about the search for spawning herring in previous years on our website: www.wrft.org.uk

Thanks 🙂

12/02/2025

Fine sunny day by the River Balgy for the first cast of the 2025 salmon fishing season in Wester Ross today. Thank you to Richard and Claire Munday, Jim Raffell, Louise Gray, Stephen Bate, piper Sandy Boyd, Alasdair Macdonald, Neil Morrison, Maree Todd MSP, Shieldaig Angling Club and everyone else for coming along and hosting a very enjoyable occassion.

No salmon were caught today; a wee bit more water is needed to bring the first fish in. However no one was complaining about the winter sunshine.

Please check catch and release and biosecurity guidance at Fisheries Management Scotland website.

Thankyou to all the River Balgy fisheries proprietors, to the Marine Directorate and to the Wester Ross Area Salmon Fisheries Board for permissions and support.

Tight lines!

12/10/2023

Fishy Tales on Gairloch beach and in Gairloch Community Hall, Saturday 21st October

12/10/2023

The weather forecast for Saturday 21st October (according to the BBC) is for a light SE breeze and bright sunshine!!

So if you are an optimistic sort of person like me . . . it could be just about perfect for our Fishy Tales event on Gairloch beach by the golf course. The day will start at 10am with seine netting for little fish from the shore (sea conditions permitting) then an exciting outdoor science-theatre show for families at 11am, by Edinburgh based 'Thunder and Lightning'. This brand new show is coming to Gairloch after performances on Arran and Skye, and we are very excited to welcome them! Just imagine if we get a sunny day . . . Please come along and dress for whatever the weather may be!

Then in the afternoon, a marine habitats and fishes theme continues in Gairloch Community Hall (open from 12 noon) with local groups, displays, activities for youngster, recap theatre show, and drop down Baited Remote Underwater stereo video presentation by Dr Neil Burns from fish surveys in Gruinard Bay and Little Loch Broom during summers of 2022 and 2023, plus all the latest news from the West of Scotland Herring Hunt, and a chance to meet with other people keen to look after the sea and revive wild fisheries. Thank you to WOSHH, NERC and Sea-Changers for supporting this event. Please visit the WRFT website, www.wrft.org.uk for more info.

Wester Ross Fisheries Trust (WRFT) was established in 1996 in response to the need for solutions to fisheries problems and to improve the management of wild fisheries. Wester Ross has some of the most exciting and prolific wild game fishing in one of the most spectacular parts of Scotland.