The aim of Galloway Fisheries Trust is to restore and maintain aquatic biodiversity, particularly native fish, in Galloway by means of practical, responsible and sustainable approaches to land, water and fishery management, based on sound science, for the benefit of the community as a whole.
Galloway Fisheries Trust is an environmental charity which was set up in 1988 by four local District Salmon Fishery Boards in the South West of Scotland with common problems and aims.
Since then the Trust has expanded and now encompasses a wide range of work which covers most of Dumfries and Galloway's rivers and still waters including the Border Esk.
The core river catchments on which we carry out the majority of our work are: the River Luce, River Bladnoch, River Cree, Water of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire Dee, River Urr, Water of App, Piltanton Burn and the Border Esk.
The aims of our remit are met by undertaking practical works, education initiatives, focussed research projects and delivering key services to member waters and the wider community. Evidence based management underpins this work program. Since 2019 GFT has been completing work on the Annan catchment and providing scientific advice to the Annan DSFB.
The long awaited Sparling Bridge successfully opened on Saturday 30th November. Crowds gathered either side of the bridge on the sunny afternoon to celebrate the grand opening of the new pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting the communities of Minnigaff and Newton Stewart.
The Galloway Fisheries Trust is working with Natural England to produce a detailed Smelt Restoration Management Plan for the inner Solway Firth, to be the framework for European smelt (sparling) recovery in designated Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) around England and Wales.
On the 31st August 2019, GFT held their biennial Dinner Auction and it was an outstanding success.