Johnnie Walker operator Diageo invested £550,000 (US$752,000) in the development of a weir to improve the sustainability of fish shares in the river Dullan.
The weir on the river Dullan will make improvements to upstream biodiversity
Diageo and the Spey Fishery Board collaborated on the development of the weir on the river Dullan, aspect of the river Spey catchment, which is important to the Scotch whisky marketplace.
The venture, which has taken a few and a half yrs to design and style and construct, replaces a harmed weir. It is hoped the new weir will increase upstream biodiversity and increase the opportunity for spawning trout and salmon in the river.
Brian Shaw, senior biologist at Spey Fishery Board, reported: “The Spey Fishery Board was delighted to be equipped to function with Diageo, and their workforce, to provide about this inspiring renovation of the weir and fish pass. We like it. Extra importantly, so do the fish. The quantity of spawning redds counted earlier mentioned the weir very last autumn was the highest we have recorded.
“The fish move makes it possible for a variety of species to migrate upstream, and downstream, which include eels and represents the ‘gold standard’ for fish passage in the catchment. We search forward to the Dullan h2o fulfilling its potential to grow to be one of the most successful rivers in the Spey catchment.”
It is hoped the recently-constructed weir will convey environmental positive aspects to the full Spey drinking water catchment spot, which is house to 11 Diageo single malt distilleries.
The company’s Mortlach Distillery and Dufftown Distillery presently use h2o from the river Dullan for cooling in the distilling procedure.
Lee Oliver, setting manager at Diageo, said: “The layout of the new fish pass is a vast improvement on the old, damaged weir at Dufftown and can take into account cost-free passage for all fish species as perfectly as different flow disorders.
“We have worked intently with the Spey Fishery Board to produce a weir method that will benefit all river users and in convert the nearby local community. I am delighted to see the challenge finish and appear forward to checking the effects on fish populations around the up coming few years.”
A very similar, smaller-scale venture has also been concluded on the Burn up of Linkwood at Linkwood Distillery in Elgin, in the neighbouring river Lossie catchment.
In addition to the operate in Speyside, Diageo options to develop its programme of fish go enhancements at its Glen Ord distillery in close proximity to Inverness later this yr.