There is increasing awareness of the nature and complexity of the processes influencing river channels and the maintenance of fish habitats. Increased understanding highlights the sensitivity of these processes and the way in which they also underpin the biodiversity and amenity value of rivers. It shows the need for careful planning and design if management is to be sustainable and is to achieve its objectives without producing unanticipated and detrimental impacts. There is a clear need to consider carefully the consequences of management intervention in river channels. This requires careful appraisal of whether or not to intervene and the need to distinguish between good and bad practice in such schemes. Although the document offers some. | a guide to best practice Managing River Habitats for Fisheries This document was prepared on behalf of the four partners by Professor Chris Soulsby of the Department of Geography and Environment University of Aberdeen. The document benefited from extensive consultation over this and previous drafts. The partners are grateful for the input of all contributors. Photographs from SEPA and Fisheries Research Services Freshwater Laboratory. Published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency SEPA for a working group of representatives from the Fisheries Research Services Freshwater Laboratory the Fisheries Branch of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department SEPA and Scottish Natural Heritage. S E P AF Scottish Environment Protection Agency Fisheries Research Services SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE 1 901322 23
