Forres Angling Association suspends fishing on River Findhorn

Fishing on one of Moray’s mightiest rivers has been banned due to an outbreak of a water mold that infects freshwater fish.

Forres Angling Association has suspended all fishing on the River Findhorn following disturbing advice from the Findhorn District Salmon Fishery Board.

Board chairman, Anthony Laing, explained that concern has been raised by fishing tenants and others about spring salmon dying in large numbers of Saprolegnia.

He said: “The river has been extremely low for some time now and the initial run of spring salmon is suffering extremely badly.

“We strongly recommend that all fishing on the river and bay should stop for a period of at least three weeks from May 19.

“This will be reviewed on June 2 and extended if necessary.”

Forres Angling Association controls four miles of double bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the lower River Findhorn, extending from the Red Craig pool at Mundole to the tidal Sea Pool at Findhorn Bay.

There are 17 named fishing pools on the river, rated as one of the top 10 for salmon fishing in Scotland.

However, catches in recent seasons have been disappointing, as they have been on many other British salmon rivers.

For more information visit https://www.forresangling.co.uk/ and https://www.fnlrt.org.uk/.

Moray Councillor Draeyk van der Horn (Forres, Green) explained that the drought over the past weeks was confirmed by the Forres weather station as “experiencing unprecedented low rainfall”.

He said: “It’s part of an increasingly erratic pattern of weather which is typical of climate change. This kind of unpredictability is only the beginning.

“In this case, low rainfall leads to lower river levels and a surge in fish diseases. I fear for the future of our healthy rivers.”

He finished: “Initiatives like the Findhorn Watershed Initiative are critical. This collaborative programme of habitat restoration and river stewardship is essential to protecting our fish populations and the broader ecosystem.

“Action now is not optional, it’s urgent.”