https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/eWoNvgvl
Any views posted on this page are not necessarily shared by the trustees of River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO
The story starts in March 2010 when members of Newton Stewart & District Angling Association began the hatchery and habitat project in response to the decline in the numbers of Atlantic salmon in the River Cree and its tributaries. In 2011 a charitable trust, The River Cree Hatchery and Habitat Trust, was formed to take over the running of the project and shortly thereafter a full-time Hatchery Coordinator was employed to oversee the running of the operation. Over the next few years the project steadily increased the scope of its activities:
• Up to 200,000 salmon fry are reared in the hatchery each year and stocked into the Cree catchment.
• Electro-fishing skills were honed in order to assist with broodstock capture and to monitor fish numbers, including stocked fry
• A programme of extensive habitat improvements was commenced, including removing barriers to migration, controlling Invasive Non Native Species, cutting back self-seeded Sitka Spruce on the banks of spawning burns and re-planting with native broadleaf trees.
• An education programme, initially involving four local primary schools, was developed.
• A training programme was developed to enable employment and training opportunities to be offered to local unemployed youngsters.
• Volunteering opportunities are offered for up to forty local people each year.
• Fish husbandry techniques were developed to improve the quality of the salmon fry being reared. Stocking of a limited number of fin-clipped fry was commenced to assist in identifying hatchery-reared adult salmon. In February 2023 the operation was transferred to River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO, which continues to deliver and develop all the above activities. This is a community-led conservation project, initiated by local people who have a passion to improve the health of their river. The Trustees would very much appreciate any assistance you feel you could offer to promote the further development of River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO. For further information on future developments please contact:
Murdo Crosbie (Co-ordinator) Tel: 01671 403722, Mobile 07798653740, email to: [email protected]
Terence Flanagan (Secretary): Tel: 01671 402438, email to: [email protected]
