The Scottish Government launched its latest publicity campaign to help Scottish rivers fight the potentially lethal bug, Gyrodactylus salaris (Gs), at the end of April at the Freshwater Fisheries Forum by releasing a short film explaining how all river users can help minimise the risk of bringing the bug into Scotland.  Deadly to Atlantic Salmon, if Gs gets into our rivers it would be the end of Salmon fishing and the potential collapse of rural economies in some areas, including Tweed.

The River Tweed Commission has run its own awareness campaign over the last three years, firstly by introducing Declaration Forms for anglers who fish abroad to declare their kit is 'clean', secondly by distributing the now-familiar fence post panels reminding all river users of the risk and, this year, issuing all beats on the River with Gs Books which every angler should sign prior to commencing fishing on Tweed. The key is to keep this issue to the fore in people's minds as it is a threat that is not going to disappear.

For more information on what you should do to help prevent Gs ever reaching Scotland and decimating our Salmon stocks, visit the Gs page on the RTC's website, where you can also view the Scottish Government's new Gs film.