Disinfection of Angling Equipment to Prevent Bio Hazards 

Introduction

The River Don Trust and Don District Salmon Fishery Board would like to draw your attention to the potential bio hazards that anglers can introduce unwittingly into the River Don Catchment through the use of contaminated angling equipment. This can be prevented with a simple process of disinfecting all angling associated equipment. The parasite Gyrodactylus salaris, poses the greatest threat and is currently found in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, viruses such as Infectious Salmon Anaemia, and Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis as well as bacterial infections such as Furunculosis can also be introduced.

In an attempt to avoid ingress of these hazards to the river system there are a number of disinfection facilities within Donside that anglers can visit, whether they are visiting from inside or outside the United Kingdom. These facilities are located in the following venues where the staff will be happy to disinfect your fishing equipment and provide a receipt to show that you have had this process carried out to your fishing equipment for a nominal sum.

It would be very helpful if all visiting anglers had their tackle disinfected as this will help prevent Bio Hazards from entering the system and ultimately will help protect and preserve the River Don stocks. It would also be helpful if local anglers had their tackle disinfected annually.

Other water sports users, such as canoeists are encouraged to have their equipment disinfected as well.

Venues for disinfecting

Monymusk/Sauchen

The River Don Trust office is located on the grounds of Cluny Castle near Monymusk in the middle of the catchment. The premises are at the Old Estate Office, Sauchen AB51 7RT, contact is 01330 860099 or 07860 846 999. Upon arrangement with the Biologist they will be delighted to provide an efficient disinfection service for a donation to the River Don Trust and are open 5 days per week Monday-Friday.

Aberdeen

The fishing tackle shop "Somers of Aberdeen" is located in the centre of Aberdeen just of the main shopping thoroughfare Union Street. The premises are at 13-15 Bon Accord Terrace and their telephone number to contact is 01224 210008. They will be delighted to provide an efficient disinfection service for a nominal sum and are open 6 days per week Monday-Saturday for all your angling needs.

Banchory

There is an Orvis fishing store located at 2-8 Bridge St, Banchory AB31 5SX which is located very close to the bridge over the River Dee. The store is open 6 days per week Monday-Saturday for all your angling needs and will provide an efficient disinfection service for a nominal sum. They can be contacted by calling 01330 824319 in the first instance.

For further information please see the website

www.riverdon.org.uk , contact Jamie Urquhart on [email protected]

or 01330 830080/07860 846999