Sharing Scotland’s rivers

A recent article in the Trout & Salmon magazine presented very interesting figures on the relative scale of Sport Wales’ funding for the promotion of game fishing versus canoeing. The startling disparity illuminated by the article showed 450% more money being granted to canoeing, over that which was spent on developing angling. Based on the huge increase in canoe traffic on the Spey, Tweed and Tay over recent years, it would surprise no salmon fisherman to learn that such a disparity in spend is very probably of equal measure in Scotland. This raises two questions, one of fiscal responsibility and the other of a more ethical nature. We must ask; “Is canoeing potentially worth more than four times the value of fishing to the Scottish economy?” And, “Is a proportional increase in canoe traffic fair and in balance with the interests of fishers?”

 I strongly suspect that the current survey of the value to Scotland’s economy attributable to game fishing (SCSTG and SNH) will show that fishermen contribute a very large number to the rural economy. I have no knowledge of a similar survey being carried out in respect of canoeing. However, given that by its nature canoeing is perhaps at best a one-day exercise that may feature one or two times per year in the family calender, the direct revenues from canoeing will be small. Furthermore, while it is quite normal for fishermen to take “fishing holidays” of several days or weeks duration, I would suggest that it is far more likely to be the case that canoeing is an activity which may be enjoyed by families, groups and individuals who are already on holiday. In other words, for fishermen, it is the fishing itself which draws visitors to Scotland in large numbers. Whereas for the holidaymaker who is visiting Scotland anyway, canoeing is more of a casual or incidental experience. On the basis of these observations, my answer to the first question is an emphatic No. This disproportionate spend on canoeing is in my opinion completely unjustified and misplaced.

The answer to the second question is more subjective and emotive. I would be lying if I were to say that I welcome the sight of a flotilla of canoes paddling around the bend in the river just as I’m about to put a fly through the “hot spot” I’ve deliberately left undisturbed all morning. The presence of canoes can be irritating. However, perhaps somewhat controversially amongst my peers, I do not believe that a campaign of hostility toward canoeists is proportional to a few minutes irritation. In truth, the fish will not be disturbed for more than perhaps a few minutes by the passing of the canoes. Furthermore, in my experience, 99% of the canoeists are polite and friendly and will follow whichever route through the pool is requested by the fishermen. To my mind, I can see very little harm and a lot of good in sharing the river with responsible canoeists. Anything which encourages families and particularly children, to engage with the countryside can only be to our shared benefit. Who knows, the sight of a salmon leaping a few feet from their boat might just plant a seed in the mind of a youngster that actually, fly-fishing for salmon might be something that they want to try some day?

Scotland’s rivers are not and should not be the exclusive preserve of the fishermen. We do ourselves and others an injustice to show hostility and negativity towards those who would share our enjoyment of being on the river. However, it is certainly the case that pragmatically it makes much more sense to support to a greater extent that activity which has the potential to contribute most to the Scottish economy. Rather than spending vast amounts to promote canoeing, these monies should be directed toward preserving stocks, reducing exploitation at sea and in the estuaries and improving habitats. That would be the solution which is both fiscally responsible and ethical.

River & Green Director Ian Walls

Here at River & Green we like to practice what we preach which means that, depending on the season, there’s a lot of fish and game on the dinner table. Sometimes however, even we run out of ideas, so here’s a delicious and easy salmon en croute recipe courtesy of our friends at Colstoun Cookery School :

Salmon en Croute

• 1 red pepper
• 1 yellow pepper or 280g roasted mixed peppers in oil
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 25g butter
• 150g spinach washed & coarsely shredded
• 375g ready-rolled all butter puff pastry
• 2 x 175g Salmon fillet, skinned
• 1 egg, beaten
• Watercress to garnish (optional)

For the Sauce:

• 150ml double cream
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp basil pesto
• 1 tbsp chopped basil

 Method

• Heat the oven to 220C/gas 7.
• Slice the peppers and toss in olive oil and roast for 20 minutes until soft, and allow to cool. If using peppers from a jar, drain and cut into thick strips.
• Melt the butter in a large pan, add the spinach and cook quickly until wilted, season and leave to cool, then squeeze out excess moisture.
• Heat a large baking tray in the oven.
• Roll out half the pastry really thinly, (about a pound coin width) to a little larger size than the salmon fillet. Place 1 fillet skinned- side down, onto the centre of the pastry, season and arrange the peppers and spinach on top. Season the second side of salmon and place on top so that it mirrors the one underneath. Brush the edge of the pastry with beaten egg.
• Roll out the remaining pastry really thinly so that it is slightly larger than the bottom layer of pastry. Carefully lift over the salmon, trim off any excess and seal the edges.
• Re-roll the remaining pastry trimmings thinly and cut out pastry stars from the trimmings. Brush the pastry with beaten egg, decorate with the stars, then brush the stars with the egg.
• Using 2 fish slices, carefully lift onto the preheated baking tray on the non-stick paper, and bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes while you make the sauce.
• For the sauce, heat the cream, and the lemon juice and pesto, and season. Add the basil just before serving.
• Serve the salmon in slices with the sauce and garnish with watercress, if you like.

Scottish Pike Recipe – Baked stuffed pike

Here’s a fantastic recipe for baked stuffed pike. In our experience the cooking times work best with a fish of about 3-5lbs.

1.  Clean and descale the fish, then remove the backbone but leave on the head and tail

2.  Cook about one cup of wild rice, then set it to one side to cool down

3.  Dice one large onion, 2 garlic cloves and one medium sized skinned cucumber

4.  Salt the chopped cucumber and leave for about 15-20 minutes.

5.  Fry off the onion, garlic and cucumber in a couple of knobs of butter – cook until translucent rather than brown

6.  Roughly chop up 2 or 3 hard-boiled eggs, some capers, some olives, curly parsley, chives and fresh thyme

7.  Mix  the rice, fried onion mix and chopped ingredients, then add a couple of spoonful’s of crème fraiche and season with salt and plenty of pepper

8.  Stuff the cavity of the cleaned pike with the savoury stuffing mix and stitch or tie the fish closed

9.  Place the stuffed fish onto a lightly buttered baking dish and put into a preheated oven at 200ºC

10. After 5 minutes, turn the fish and put it back into the oven for another 5 minutes

11. Add half a cup of water and half a cup of white wine and turn the oven down to 175ºC

12. Cook for about 30 to 40 minutes, until the fish is firm, but not hard, to the touch

Ingredients:

• 3 qt Boiling salted water
• 2/3 c Rice
• 1 lg Cucumber, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 1/4 tsp. Salt
• 2 Hard-cooked eggs, coarsely chopped
• 2 tb Butter
• 1/2 c Onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 c Parsley, finely chopped
• 1/4 c Chives, finely chopped
• 1 tb Salt
• 1/8 tsp. White pepper
• 1 tb Heavy cream (to 3 tb)
• 8 tb Butter (a 1/4-lb stick)
• 6 tb Dry bread crumbs
• 3 lb Pike — cleaned and scaled *
• 1/2 c Boiling water

Scotland’s amazing summer of sport

There has never been a better time to visit Scotland than this summer. The “main events” will be the Commonwealth Games (23 July to 3 August) and golf’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles (23 to 28 September). However, there is a huge variety of other events which will also contribute to our summer of sport. Fort William will host the UCI World Mountain Bike World Cup (7 to 8 June), inviting 300 of the world’s best riders from 25 nations to compete for World Champion status. Later in June, the 700th Anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn will be celebrated at Pipefest in Stirling (27 June). Pipe Bands and Scottish Clan members from all over the world are expected to attend. As well as the Ryder Cup, golf enthusiasts will also be able to visit the mens’ Scottish Open on the Balgownie Links (10 to 13 July) and the lady’s event at Archerfield (29 to 31 August). Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair is Scotland’s leading equestrian event (21 to 24 August) attracting in excess of 40,000 visitors. For more information visit Event Scotland.

http://www.eventscotland.org/events?page=all