FAQ: What impact will the beavers have on migratory fish?
This issue has been raised recently through the press. Like all other monitoring criteria for the trial, the impact that beavers have on general fish populations in Knapdale will be monitored by Scottish Natural Heritage. However, this will not be extensively tested by this trial as the trial area does not contain Atlantic salmon and has a very small number of sea trout.
It is important to note however that beavers and other native species, including migratory fish and notably salmon, have co-existed naturally for many years in other countries. The Scottish Beaver Trial’s view of the beaver-salmon issue is outlined on an information sheet which can be read in our publications section.
Any further releases of beavers will require a licence from the Scottish Government and no further licence application is under development.
