Salmon Festival aims to hook industry co-operation

THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend Scotland’s Salmon Festival in Inverness this week.

The biennial event, which started on Tuesday and ends tomorrow, celebrates the Atlantic salmon and its importance to Scotland, economically, culturally and historically.

This year’s festival is bigger and better than ever, with events including a film night, international science conference, public lectures, speycasting tournament and family fair.

The festival has been designed to be as accessible to the public as possible, with the family fair in Bught Park today and tomorrow including cookery demonstrations by top chefs, local food and craft exhibitors, children’s activities, plus information stands for people to find out more about the Atlantic salmon.

Salmon do not only play a vital role in our rivers, they are a huge contributor to the economy as a food product, international export and visitor attraction.

It is also an opportunity for the public to learn about research happening in the Highlands and the role the Inverness College UHI Rivers and Lochs Institute plays in informing the conservation and management of Atlantic salmon and freshwater biodiversity.

Dr Melanie Smith, chairwoman of Scotland’s Salmon Festival steering group and head of research development at Inverness College UHI, said: "The whole festival is aimed at building greater awareness of the Atlantic salmon, its life cycle, cultural and economic importance to Scotland and the pressures it currently faces.

"With the increasing numbers of non-native pink salmon in local rivers, our conference will also highlight the need to investigate the potential challenge this presents for the native Atlantic salmon.

"The festival recognises the importance of protecting and enhancing our wild salmon, together with the benefits that an environmentally sustainable and competitive salmon farming industry can bring to Scotland. The challenge is minimising the impacts of this industry in a way that ensures wild and farmed salmon can co-exist.

"It’s important we all work together in the spirit of partnership and mutual trust and our intention is the festival will further encourage co-operation between scientists, the farming industry, government and wild fisheries sector."

The festival sees Inverness Angling Club host its Centenary Speycasting Tournament on the banks of the River Ness today and tomorrow. The tournament marks the club’s 100th anniversary and 26 anglers from will compete in the competition, which has been organised with the help of Scott Mackenzie.

Graham MacKenzie, president of Inverness Angling Club, believes the speycasting tournament will be a spectacle all can enjoy. "The club celebrates its centenary on this week and there could be no better way to celebrate that than inviting angling friends to join us in this tournament."

To coincide with the two-day tournament, the free family fair in Bught Park runs from 11am to 4pm on both days.

There will be cookery demonstrations in the Marine Harvest Theatre Kitchen by Mark Heirs, a private chef/consultant and former finalist of MasterChef: The Professions; Alfie Little, chef proprietor of the River House Restaurant, Inverness; Chris Bond, head chef of the Glen Mhor Hotel, Inverness; Edwin Blackhall, head chef at Aspects at the MacDonald Aviemore Highland Resort, and Kat Wardrop, head chef at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness.

A food and craft marquee will feature a range of local exhibitors, with artisans showcasing everything from tartan and tweed to hand-knitted accessories, photography, jewellery, silverware, lamps and health and beauty products.

There will be face painting, a bouncy castle and story-telling.

Roddy Henry, acting principal of Inverness College UHI, which is the lead partner in the festival, said: "Our Rivers and Lochs Institute is at the forefront of research into freshwater biodiversity and in particular, the Atlantic salmon, and this is a great opportunity to share our work with the wider public."

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