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The Pupils of Kells Primary School Learning Identifacation Skills on the River Dee

7 Jun 19
by Courtney Rowland
Jess explains the importance of surveying to monitor the health of our rivers.

This morning Jess, our Prioritized Salmon Habitat Restoration officer was joined by the enthusiastic pupils of Kells Primary school in New Galloway to explore the wonders of the River Dee.

This morning the GFT team were joined along the banks of the River Dee by a group of very knowledgeable and enthusiastic pupils from Kells Primary School in New Galloway.  With the help of parents and teachers, we were able to demonstrate electric fishing and kick sampling survey techniques. Jess expressed the importance of surveying, explaining that electrofishing surveys are undertaken to monitor the health and abundance of wild fish stocks. Kick sampling surveys can be useful, indicating stream health, water quality and food abudance for juvenille fish populations. 

Within the stream the pupils found an abundance of invertebrates which they were able to identify, an activity they thoroughly enjoyed after previously learning this technique in their local stream with the help of their teachers they noticed differences in what types of invertebrates they found. The pupils were experts at identifying the differences between juvenile salmon and trout parr, successfully identifying ‘Bob’ the salmon.  

All in all it was a brilliant morning on the River Dee!

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