Author: Club Secretary

Because of the coronavirus outbreak the committee have decided that membership of KOSAA will be restricted this year to people whose permanent residence is in the Highlands.

The subscription fees for the 2020 season will remain unchanged.

Membership	Age	Fee
Adult	21 to 64	£110
Senior	65 and older	£80
Adult Concession	18 to 20	£50
Junior	17 and younger	Free

Following the recent relaxation of the Scottish Government Coronavirus Guidelines the KOSAA season opened for members on 1^st June and our vice-chairman, Douglas Macleay, caught what is thought to be the first fish of the season from the Kyle on Monday 8^th June. Douglas was fishing The Gangway and the fish, estimated at about 12lbs to 14lbs, was fresh from the sea and covered in long tailed sea lice. Well done Douglas. 

Anyone who wishes to renew their membership for this season should contact Mimi or Kenny Campbell, Kenny is usually at the old ice house next to the bridge during the fishable tides to issue sea trout tickets for locals.

Please check and adhere to the latest Scottish Government guidelines if you intend to fish.

Subject to the relaxation of the existing Scottish Government guidelines by this date, fishing for members on the Kyle will commence on 1^st June.

All persons fishing will be expected to follow government guidelines which those fishing should make themselves aware of.  KOSSA will not be responsible for any actions which contravene those guidelines. 

The guidelines will probably change as the season progresses so please check the latest guidance before fishing. 

No visitor permits will be issued this season.

Tickets to fish for sea trout below the bridge will be available, for locals only, from Kenny and Mimi Campbell. Please contact Kenny or Mimi by phone or email to arrange how these can be safely collected. 

Boat fishing on the lochs using the KOSAA boats will remain closed until further notice. Bank fishing will be allowed if government guidelines are followed.

Fishery Board bailiffs will be checking the membership cards of anyone fishing so please remember to bring these with you if you intend to fish.

As in previous seasons members should notify Kenny Campbell by phone or email of any salmon or sea trout caught by the end of the week in which the catch was made.

Please remember to keep a record of any days that you fish for salmon this season since this will be required as part of the return made to Marine Scotland at the end of the season.

Subject to agreement with the proprietors, it is the intention of the committee to open the fishing on the Kyle when this is allowed by the Scottish Government and to strictly adhere to any guidelines that are in place.

At the moment, Fisheries Management Scotland has recommended that there should be no fishing during the lockdown period which is due to end on 13th April.  By then, as things stand, it is likely that the lockdown period will be extended for a further period. 

Given these circumstances members should be aware that there is now a strong possibility that the opening of the KOSAA season on June 1^st may have to be delayed and, depending on how things develop over the coming months, may have to be cancelled altogether.

The usual cut-off date for payment of subscriptions will be suspended for this year and, as the situation becomes clearer, the committee will decide if refunds should be offered to those members who have already paid.

The Committee will continue to monitor the situation and further announcements will be posted as things develop.

Due to the escalating number of Coronovirus cases in Scotland,  I have
decided to postpone the KOSAA AGM which was scheduled for 12th March. 

I hope that we may be able to reschedule the meeting in the  late Spring
once the Scottish Government knows better what it is dealing with.

Peter Routledge
Chairman

The AGM will be held in the Edderton Community Hall on Thursday 12 March 2020 at 7:30pm. Refreshments will be available and there will be a raffle on the night to raise funds for the Association. All welcome.

Members were sent catch return forms with their membership cards and tags at the beginning of the season. Please complete these and return them to the secretary no later than 14th October 2019. Nil returns are required and please remember to enter the number of days that you fished for salmon each month on the form.

Pink salmon have been found in the Kyle rivers during July 2019, Fishery Management Scotland have produced a new advice note. This has been produced in collaboration with Marine Scotland, SNH and SEPA and provides advice on what to do if these fish are captured or observed, what information should be recorded and how samples should be stored. The advice note may be downloaded from the Fishery Management Scotland web page on Pink salmon:-

Pink Salmon in Scotland

A link to the document is also included below. Please report any incidences of these fish to Fisheries Management Scotland who will collate this information.

190503 INNS – Statement Pink salmon 5