A WARNING that Scottish anglers might have to fish heats of a national competition on an English Midlands fishery was given by the chairman of Scotland’s largest angling organisation at the weekend, writes Ken Bell, angling correspondent.

Ronnie Picken was speaking at the annual meeting of the Scottish Anglers’ National Association.

Mr Picken told delegates, “I don’t think many of us here today will see an improvement in Loch Leven in our lifetime.”

At a recent meeting to discuss the condition of the loch, attended by the Scottish Executive, Fishery Research Service, Scottish Natural Heritage and Kinross Estate, the only positive outcome seemed to be an undertaking by the estate company that they would immediately stop stocking the loch, and “look closely at alternative management measures for reducing the impact of predation.”

It is understood this could be seeking to increase the population of perch in the 3400-acre water to give the cormorants an alternative prey to the loch trout.

Mr Picken said the Fishery Research Service, which carried out a survey of the loch some years ago that revealed cormorants were eating more trout annually than were being stocked, are to look at the current state of brood stocks.

They are also to examine the genetics of the Loch Leven trout to determine population viability and whether the fish themselves should be subject to legal protection.

Scottish Natural Heritage, he added, are looking at habitat enhancement, and to help fund the FRS work, while the Scottish Executive has been asked to help fund equipment to monitor the viability of the feeder burns.

The question of improvement of the surrounding habitat to offer cover and protection on the spawning burns is being looked at.

The next step would be to convene a forum involving the Kinross Estate Company, FRS, SEPA, SANA, the Scottish Executive and other riparian owners.

A slightly cynical Mr Picken told the meeting, “I suspect Loch Leven will be surveyed and researched to death, or until they get a result or a report that suits the chosen agenda—whatever that is!

“I don’t think many of us here today will see an improvement in Loch Leven in our lifetime.”

* Earlier in the day Fife angler David Chalmers was elected chairman of the SANA competition section.

The section agreed they were not “at present” interested in participating in an international competition as had been suggested by England.