About us

Purpose

The purpose of the Trust is “to advance for public benefit, the conservation and enhancement of native fish (including migratory salmonids) and their environments” within the Flow Country of Caithness and Eastern Sutherland. Likewise, to foster understanding of the aquatic ecosystems and river catchment management; and the benefits of and need to conserve the aquatic environments.

Governance

The Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee (SCO467897) and a registered charity (SCO44673). The chairman, company directors and board members make up the charity trustees. It is funded by a combination of private finance and grant income. It is an independent body and is guided in the deployment of its funds by its Scientific Advisor and the reasonable requests of the fisheries bodies within the Flow Country.

Click to view our Articles of Association and most recent Annual Report & Accounts.

Partners and Sponsors

We support and work with a range of environmental organisations, locally and nationally. Project partners include the Environmental Research Institute in Thurso, the Atlantic Salmon Trust, Wildfish (formerly Salmon & Trout Conservation) and the RSPB. We are members of Fisheries Management Scotland (the statutory forum for conservation of wild freshwater fish and fisheries); the Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre, for technical support, training and participation in Scotland-wide scientific projects; and the Peatland Partnership, for furtherance of the Flow Country project. 

The Caithness and Northern District Salmon Fisheries Boards (DSFB) were the founding sponsors of the Trust and we benefit from various shared resources. Grants for specific projects have been received from Marine Scotland, the Fishmongers Company, Subsea 7 as well as Foundation Scotland with funding from the Wild Salmonid Support Fund. Donations from charitable Trusts, most recently The Lord Barnby Foundation and The Craignish Trust, enable us to fulfil our aims.

Friends of the Trust

Individuals keen to support of our work can enroll as a Friend for a token fee and assist through volunteering. Many enhance their contributions with additional personal or business donations. We value their support as well as their interest and advice in all that we do.

---

Meet the shoal

The Trustees are drawn from a range of disciplines, including marine science, land management, peatland preservation, fishery operations, tourism and finance. Many are lifelong anglers. Two of the appointments are reserved to the local DSFBs. To view bio click on the photos below.

Research and fieldwork activities are coordinated by the Scientific Advisor, our biologist, and undertaken with the assistance of experienced river staff. Additional manpower is brought in on a project by project basis, drawing from a pool of local, skilled personnel and assisted by volunteers as appropriate.