Rivers and Fisheries Trusts Scotland (RAFTS)
The RAFTS Invasive Species and Biosecurity Programme is the first initiative to attempt to tackle biosecurity issues at the local level over a large geographic area. The Programme is implemented by RAFTS through 20 of its member trusts whose areas of operation cover over 80% of Scotland.
Key outputs and actions of the first stage (2008-2011) of the Programme were:
- Production of biosecurity plans for 20 member trusts
- Implementation of key actions within those plans in a number of areas
- Local reporting and surveillance systems to detect the introduction and monitor the spread of INNS and to report relevant information to national and UK based authorities.
- Local rapid response protocols to contain, control and eradicate new populations of selected INNS in the Trusts' areas. These protocols will deal with newly detected incidences of INNS that are already established in GB and that will not trigger the GB rapid response mechanism
- Local and national awareness activities
- Local capacity building particularly training
The 20 member trusts are:
Argyll Fisheries Trust Ayrshire Rivers Trust
Clyde River Foundation Cromarty Firth Fisheries Trust
River Dee Trust Deveron, Bogie & Isla Rivers Charitable Trust
Forth Fisheries Foundation Galloway Fisheries Trust
Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust Lochaber Fisheries Trust
Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust Ness & Beauly Fisheries Trust
Spey Research Trust Tay Foundation
Tweed Foundation West Sutherland Fisheries Trust
Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust
River Don Trust Esks Rivers and Fisheries Trust