a three way management solution

2. A three way management solution The Don District Salmon Fishery Board The River Don Brown Trout Improvement Association The River Don Trust Note the first two have species in their name!

3. The Board The Constrained & empowered by salmon Act Only migratory fish, so can include the sea trout No commercial activities or fundraising

4. The RDBTIA Species specific to Trout Looks after the protection order Ensures that Trout fishing access is available at reasonable cost. Newly resurrected, with a new management team

5. The RDT Covers all species in the catchment, inc salmon, trout, gudgeon, lamprey, eel, pike perch, minnow, stickleback and possibly roach and dace! Can and does engage in commercial activities A charity with no restrictions in activities To improve and conserve the ecology of the whole Don catchment area, with specific emphasis to fish

6. How it all works

7. The RDT to date Restructured as a Company Limited by guarantee, we have been going for 10 months. Developed the FMP, the rivers blueprint for survival Employed a biologist, Jamie Urquhart Developed the rivers first dedicated website, with pages for RDT, DDSFB and RDBTIA Offer a scale reading service Genetic sampling

8. The RDT to date Salmon in the classroom Obstruction removal and easing Invasive species Habitat survey Founded the “Friends of the River Don” Represent the River at a national level Offer scientific advice to the board and outside bodies Hosted a conference on invasive species and river weeds All this from our offices in Cluny Castle

9. FMP Sent to all for consultation and available from our website A living document, 1st review early next year Sets our work plan for the next 3-5 years Hopefully the first of many plans detailing how the river will be resurrected

10. Our website

11. Scale reading & Genetic Sampling We will read scales from fish you catch to tell the age, identify sea-trout, springers and the number of sea winters Scale envelopes in all Aberdeenshire tackle shops, training is available Genetic sampling will identify Don fish, identify where each group of fish spawn We will be able to use this information in many ways Genetic sampling in association with FRS

12. Salmon in the Classroom We have purchased 5 sets of SITC kit We will be working with 5 schools this year, and may extend this in the future Education is key to protecting the environment and habitat. We hope to encourage youngsters into angling

13. Obstructions We are looking to ease or remove 4 obstructions, opening over 142km of habitat All have now had an engineers survey completed, and are awaiting the report The Goval Dam This dam is at Dyce, has an excellent parr population below it, but very few above . It could only be passed by salmon, and only in large floods. Many miles of excellent habitat blocked to trout, salmon and eels. How will we ease this one?

14. Habitat surveys We are doing habitat, invasive species, invertebrate, electro-fishing and redd counting surveys

15. Friends of the River Don An organisation to raise funds for our works It gives members access to Jamie’s blog, up to date information weekly on our works. Discounted RDT merchandise Hatchery visits Access to all our activities e.g redd counting Access every week to meet with us to discuss our activities

16. Invasive Species With the board we have licences to spray hogweed, knotweed and balsam We are trapping mink, a salmonid predator

17. Representation and advice We advise the board on a regular basis, and hope that this scientific advice will extend We represent the Don at RAFTS conferences, to share best practice. We represent the river at micro Hydro scheme conferences, and will be researching the impact of up to 5 of these in planning

18. Finally, What we do We raise money and complete works to improve your fishing’s for all species in the river, improve your asset and to allow us all to learn more about your river! We ask for nothing from you for this, though all donations gratefully received! Consider becoming a friend of the River Don.