Over several field seasons N&BFT have collected small tissue samples from juvenile salmon captured when undertaking routine electro-fishing surveys.  The purpose of this project at a local scale is to map the distribution of salmon populations within the Ness and Beauly catchments and is itself a part of the pan-Scotland FASMOP project (see http://www.rafts.org.uk/projects/geneticsproject.asp for more details) and SALSEA-Merge project (see http://www.nasco.int/sas/salsea.htm) .

The analysis of the samples by staff employed by Rivers and Fisheries Trusts Scotland and based at Marine Scotland’s laboratory at Faskally has commenced and has already produced highly informative results. Initial indications suggests that there is considerable genetic differences in the samples taken, for example, from the River Ness, River Enrick and River Moriston on the Ness system and similarly on the Beauly system samples taken from the main stem of the Lower Beauly, River Glass and River Farrar have demonstrated significant levels of differentiation.  

Most interestingly, a sample taken from the Greenfield Burn on the Upper Garry system shows genetic characteristics more usually associated with Norwegian salmon strains. This obviously has serious implications for restoration efforts in this area of the Ness catchment. Analysis of samples is ongoing and is expected to take several years to fully complete.

It is expected that once completed, the genetic mapping of the Ness and Beauly salmon populations will greatly improve the management of the species at a local level. N&BFT involvement with this project has been assisted by RAFTS, Marine Scotland, Atlantic Salmon Trust and SNH.