There are many organisations working in and around the River Ythan to improve and monitor the river and educate the public.
Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are found in the Ythan river catchment area. Local volunteers and contractors have successfully worked to reduce the number of plants on the riverbanks through a mixture of spraying and removing plants by hand. Managed by: Ythan Biodiversity Volunteers,and Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI)
Monitoring the impact of the rapidly rising numbers of seals in the River Ythan area and estuary. Managed by: River Ythan Trust
Following concerns over the decline in salmon stocks electro fishing (method used to sample fish populations) techniques are being used to assess the salmon population. Results from 2018 showed all 16 sites surveyed had trout present and 10 had juvenile salmon. Managed by: Marine Scotland (site selection) and Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust (staff provision)
Surveys of piscivorous birds, seals, salmon and sea trout redds (nests that trout and salmon build in the bottom of the river to lay their eggs in). Managed by: Ythan District Salmon Fishery Board Bailiffs
Identifying and, if possible, removal of obstructions in the river. Building fish ladders in the Keithfield burn. Managed by: Ythan District Salmon Fishery Board Bailiffs and the River Ythan Trust.
Improvements to the upstream fish passage in the Ythan tributaries (Kelly Burn which flows through the Haddo lake, and the Raxton and Keithfield burns) Managed by: River Ythan Trust.
Project to collect data from a number of rivers in the North East including the Ythan, analysis still expected. Managed by: Atlantic Salmon Trust
Plant surveys carried out in the Cruden catchment area, Slains Burn and coastal streams. Survey data passed to Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI). The survey was completed in 2017. Managed by: North East Scotland Biological Records Centre (NESBReC)
The first comprehensive habitat survey of the River Ythan. The data has been used to make significant improvements to the habitat and fishery. The survey was completed in 2012. Managed by: River Ythan Trust
If you are interested in taking part in any of these projects you can contact the organisations managing the project or get in touch with the River Ythan Trust or Ythan District Salmon Fishery Board.
The Ythan District Salmon Fishery Board is a member of Fisheries Management Scotland.
The River Ythan Trust is a registered charity
Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) number SCO 41269
