A new plan has been launched to enhance fish populations and increase the number of anglers Inverness and Beauly areas.
A six year blueprint has been unveiled, and local people are being invited to give their views before the plan is finalised next month.
It focuses on managing salmon and sea trout numbers and finding ways to boost the density of juvenile fish populations and stabilise the number of resident and returning adults.
Fish populations in the area not only an important feature of its aquatic ecosystems – they are also valuable to the local economy.
The River Ness district is thought to account for a significant slice of the £35million a year spend injected by salmon and sea trout anglers into the Highland economy.
The draft Ness District Fishery Management Plan, which will run from 2014 to 2019, has been produced by the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board and Ness and Beauly Fisheries Trust.
Chris Conroy, director of the fishery board, said: “The full ecological value and economic potential of this natural resource can only be achieved and sustained through careful management.
“The management actions in this plan have been informed by a wealth of fish population and habitat surveys carried out across the catchment by the Fisheries Trust and their partner organisations.
“It’s very important that local water users and those with a general interest in the aquatic environment are also consulted. Their input is welcomed and valued.”
Recommendations include investigating the potential impacts of water usage on salmon smolt passage, enhancing habitats to mitigate the effects of low water flows in the Holm Burn, and commissioning fish barrier assessments on bridge footings and road culverts suspected of obstructing the passage of migratory fish species.
Researching how large scale offshore renewable energy projects can impact migratory fish populations is also a priority.
The number of anglers across the Ness system has also been in decline for a number of years. This is thought to be due to factors including the economic downturn, declining catches and a lack of public information on angling opportunities within the district.
Mr Conroy said: “The fewer rods fishing the system, the lower the annual catch is likely to be. This has the ‘knock on’ effect of further discouraging anglers from fishing the Ness – in effect, a vicious circle.
“It’s vitally important that, alongside actions to protect and enhance fish populations, measures are also taken to break the cycle and encourage more rods on the river.”
Anyone responding to the planby the August 8 deadline.
The plans are due to commence from August 15.