The Trust is governed by a Board of 12 Directors and a Company Secretary representing a wide range of interests and professions, including anglers, land managers, legal professionals, business, conservation and tourism.
GRT Directors (updated June 2026):
Mr R J Bellamy (Vice-chair)
Mr M O Davies (Chair)
Mr J M Haley
Mr M G R Hannay
Mr J P H Ingall
Mr M Emkes
Dr Mary Ann Smyth
Mrs M A H Nicholson
Mr C Morton
Earl of Stair
Lord Vaux of Harrowden
Mr W G Marshall
G Moore (Company Secretary)
The Trust employees have a wide range of skills and expertise to ensure we can effectively deliver our objectives. Additional field surveyors are employed to help during most summers. Trust staff and Directors sit on various boards and steering groups to assist in delivering our aims and objectives including the Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre, Loch Ken Trust, Fisheries Management Scotland, Local Advisory Group, South Scotland Conservancy Regional Stakeholder Group and the Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan Delivery Group.
The Galloway Fisheries Trust changed its name to Galloway Rivers Trust in June 2026 to reflect the organisation's broader role in protecting and improving local rivers and freshwater environments. While fisheries remains an important part of our activities, the Trust works across river catchments, including habitat restoration, water quality, education, invasive species control and community engagement.
The Galloway Rivers Trust is a member of both Fisheries Management Scotland and The Rivers Trust.
GRT is a Fair Work Employer.
In spring 2026, Galloway Rivers Trust undertook 22.5 hectares of peatland restoration around Loch Moan in Dumfries and Galloway. Loch Moan is the source of the River Cree, which is an important river in Galloway for its freshwater fish populations including the very rare Sparling.
The River Luce starts in the hills of southern Ayrshire and makes it way down through New Luce and Glenluce before joining the Solway Firth. Throughout its length it acts as a home to a large variety of aquatic species such as salmon and trout, as well as many invertebrate species.
Galloway River Trust has secured funding from the European Open Rivers Programme for work to remove the Broom Caul. As part of our work to restore the river habitats of the River Annan catchment, the removal of this caul, or weir, has been identified as a priority action.