Ness anglers and conservationists on alert after mystery advert warns of plan to fish for salmon in firth off Inverness
Anglers and conservationists in and around Inverness have been puzzled and concerned about a mysterious Public Notice that was published in The Inverness Courier.
The advert states boldly that a “Mr Grant” intends to fish for salmon “in North Kessock” and also South Kessock “under the Kessock Bridge” even though salmon fishing of any kind is legally banned in that area according to those in the know.
The notice continues: “If anyone has any formal complaints in this matter, please address these to Inverness Sheriff Court,” with the full address, phone number of the court office in Inverness being added conveniently.
Brian Shaw, director of the Ness and District Salmon Fishery Board, (NDSFB) which governs fishing activity in the River Ness system including Loch Ness and the waters of the Inverness Firth, admitted it was a “bit of a mystery”.
“I think it could be a wind-up myself because no-one has any rights to fish for salmon or sea trout there,” he said.
“No one with the name Mr Grant has permission to fish there either with rod and line or with net.
“All the netting sites have been bought over and closed there, but we will be keeping an eye on things with our bailiffs on the alert to remain vigilant.”
Mr Shaw was concerned enough to contact Inverness Sheriff Court about the notice and received an email in reply confirming that the sheriff court had no connection with the advert and they were passing the matter to their communications department.
Salmon netting stations at one time were numbered in hundreds round the coasts, but most of these have now being bought out by the angling and conservation bodies in an effort to help salmon stock.
Graham MacKenzie, honorary president of Inverness Angling Club, could not shed further light on the mystery either.
He said: “In the fairly recent past we could take 350 salmon a year out of the Ness but now it is down to about 50.
“There is an obvious decline in catches and now most anglers release any fish they catch as part of our conservation programme.
“So we would be concerned about what, if anything, is happening out in the firth if it affected salmon conservation.”
The club was involved along with the Ness and Beauly Fishery Trust in the most recent buy-out of a former netting station to the east of the Inverness end of the Kessock Bridge near the Inverness Caley Thistle stadium.
