Fly Fishing Breaks - Fishing Holidays in England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales

Our commitment to the future of our sport

We all have a part to play in ensuring the future health of our waterways and ultimately the survival of our sport, so please take time to visit the conservation links on this page, and should you feel inclined - get involved!

Fly Fishing Breaks is a member of the Wild Trout Trust

The salmon farm protest group

2,500 Scottish jobs go in salmon farming

Figures released by the Scottish Executive on 15th June disclose that 1,500 production and processing jobs have been lost in salmon farming in Scotland since 2002 following the dominance of the industry by foreign-owned companies.

SFPG chairman Bruce Sandison wrote to First Minister Jack McConnell in May asking if the Scottish Executive (SE) had adjusted its assessment of job numbers supported by the industry in line with recent failures and amalgamations of farms in the West Highlands and Islands.

Responding on behalf of Jack McConnell, Paul Haddon of the SE’s Marine Group said, “In 2001-02 it was estimated that there were about 10,000 jobs in Scotland generated by the production & processing of salmon. The latest figures currently available are for 2004 when it was estimated that the equivalent figure was about 8,500 jobs.”

Since 2004, two fish processing plants have closed and fish farms and smolt-rearing facilities have also closed in Wester Ross, Inverness-shire, Shetland and the Western Isles. Scotland’s largest operators, Marine Harvest and Stolt, have amalgamated and, since then, have been acquired by Norwegian multi-national, Pan Fish.

Pan Fish has a controlling interest in Fjord Salmon, another Norwegian company that operates in Scotland, and the new group will give Pan Fish 65% of Scottish farm production; providing the UK office of fair trading approves the deal. The Pan Fish deal is being vigorously supported by the Scottish Executive.

SFPG chairman Bruce Sandison said: “We estimate that 500 jobs have been lost since 2004 because of closures. If the Pan Fish deal goes through, another 500 jobs could go. If so, this would bring the total number of jobs shed in the past four years to around 2,500. During that time the industry has received millions of tax-payer funds, the result of which has been to destabilise rural communities and inflict hardship on those who have lost their jobs.”

Meanwhile, UK imports of Norwegian farm salmon are increasing. So far this year 15,000 tons have been received compared to 9,000 tons last year. Bruce Sandison commented, “I believe that the support given to Norwegian fish farmers by the Scottish Executive, both financially and morally, is disgraceful. The Executive has sold the right of future generations of Scots to enjoy a clean coastal and freshwater environment simply to satisfy the whims of foreign investors.”

Read more

Wild Trout Trust auction tops £30,000

The Wild Trout Trust Auction has, once again, proved a tremendous success - raising well in excess of £30,000 for its conservation work throughout the UK.

The funds will be used to assist the Trust with its continued mission to protect wild trout, restore and improve their habitats and the catchments in which they live.

The Trust would like to acknowledge the generosity of those who kindly donated lots and extends its sincere thanks to everyone who placed bids. Read more

ACA celebrates sheep dip u-turn

“A massive victory for angling”

Thursday 23 February 2006 Immediate Release

The Anglers’ Conservation Association (ACA) is today celebrating an historic decision by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to suspend the sale of cypermethrin sheep dip in the UK, with immediate effect. Cypermethrin has caused catastrophic damage to the wildlife of river systems throughout the country. The ACA and the Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA) jointly called for a ban as long ago as 1997 when these dips became widely used. Only after the threat of legal action from the ACA, including judicial review, and concerted political pressure from the S&TA and others has the VMD agreed to relent. Read more...

Gallagher jumps ship as fishing industry enters a critical period

Tuesday 14th February 2006

Today's announcement that Marine Minister Pat ‘the Cope' Gallagher is jumping ship at a critical time for the fishing industry, further shows the disregard this Government has for this industry, says Fine Gael Spokesperson on the Marine, John Perry TD.

“Today's announcement will see the fifth Marine Minister appointed in nine years. Pat ‘the Cope' Gallagher was hailed as saviour of the fishing industry when he was appointed little over a year ago. But he has instead presided over the break-up and fragmentation of the Department of the Marine. He is now running away from fishermen and abandoning ship. Despite his insistence within Donegal that he would fight hard for the fishing industry, he has let down fishermen from not only his own constituency, but fishermen from throughout the country. Read more

Stealth parasite threatens European fish

A new deadly disease, carried by an invasive fish species, is threatening European fish diversity according to a paper published in the journal Nature on 23 June 2005. Read more

Brown trout conservation

The Wild Trout Trust

The Wild Trout Trust is involved in a range of educational, research and habitat improvement activities.

As well as initiating their own rehabilitation projects they act as a catalyst for getting other peoples projects under way, by providing them with encouragement, advice and funding.

To find out more about the Wild Trout Trust click here

Wild Brown Trout Development Programme For Loughs Corrib, Mask and Carra

There remain only 13 natural wild brown trout fisheries of consequence in Europe. Of these 12 are located in Ireland. This small number of relatively large, pristine, shallow, alkaline lakes capable of supporting large stocks of wild brown trout are the only salmon fisheries of their kind left in Western Europe.

Of these 12 lakes, the largest and most important are in the Corrib system situated in the West of Ireland. The Corrib System is a network of rivers and lakes which includes Loughs Corrib, Mask and Carra - known as the Great Western Lakes. The lakes cover a total surface area of 26,500 hectares and constitute an environmental resource of major international importance. The extensive shallow areas, pristine alkaline waters and an abundance of insect life have, since the last ice age, made the lakes the perfect habitat for wild brown trout.

The existence of this unique environmental resource places upon all of us a responsibility to ensure their preservation and conservation for future generations. A scientific survey undertaken before development works commenced, showned that wild brown stocks were depressed. The Development Programmes are specifically aimed at restoring Loughs Corrib, Mask and Carra as premier wild brown trout fisheries while recognising the value of other species, such as coarse fish, and salmon in the context of Lough Corrib and its tributaries.

Catch and release

As our precious fish stocks become more and more threatened by mans endevours it is clear that if our sport is to survive we must ensure sustainability. Wildlife does not need artifical stock enhancement but it needs suitable habitat and environment and the resource must not be over exploited. Catch and release is one consideration to ensure fish for future generations. Caring for the environment is the best way to ensure a World for future generations.

Follow those few simple rules and your fish will have the best chance of surviving:

Use tackle commensurate with the size of fish. If its too light the fish can become stressed.

Get the fish into the bank as quickly as possible.

Barbless single hooks cause less damage. You can crush the barbs down with pliers if needed. Micro barbs work well.

Carry forceps or pliers to remove hooks.

Wet your hands before touching a fish - it reduces damage to the "slime" which protects the fish.

Try not to remove a fish from water.

If removed from water use a knotless landing net and support the body of the fish.

Do not hold salmon up by the tail if it is to be returned as this can break the spine.

Try not to touch the gills - they are very sensitive.

Use an unhooking mat if the fish is to be placed on the bank.

If the fish is bleeding badly or hooked in the eye it is unlikely to recover and should be killed quickly using a heavy priest or by cutting the gill arch.

Take a picture to show your friends

Hold the fish carefully facing the current until it recovers sufficiently for a safe release

Be proud of your contribution towards the future of game angling

Gyrodactylus Salaris

This is a disease parasite which is utterly disasterous for salmon stocks should it enter a river system. One of the most practical things you can do to prevent the spread of diseases is to sterilise all of your fishing equipment prior to and following a fishing break abroad.

To download a practical guide to preventing the spread of Gyrodactylus Salaris in PDF format click here

First Nature

Illustrated guides to British and European wildflowers, birds, insects, fishes, reptiles, mammals, amphibians; First Nature books and CD-ROMs; DreamStreams salmon, trout and sea trout courses.

To read more about First nature books and CD Roms click here