Fishing boats at their moorings on Calm Loch Marree, Kinlochewe. Wester Ross. XPL 3485-340
Loch Maree is of international importance for its special wildlife and biodiversity. Until recently, thousands of adult sea trout (Sea going Brown trout Salmo trutta) and salmon (Salmo salar) returned to the loch from the sea every summer. Sea trout gathered in huge numbers in certain bays, providing some of the most exciting angling in Scotland for which the loch had an international reputation. A British record sea trout of lb was caught on a 'dapping fly' in the loch in 1952. The sea trout fishery collapsed in the 1990s and has yet to recover fully. Sea trout and salmon are an important part of Loch Maree's ecosystem providing food for Black-throated diver and Otter (Lutra lutra) for which the loch is a designated Special Area of Conservation and Special Protected Area under the EU Habitats Directive. Juvenile trout can be an important part of the diet of Black-throated diver. The loch also has two separate populations of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) about which little is known. One form of charr, with a big eye which feeds on the bottom in deep water matures at less than 15 cm. The other form grows to over 32 cm and can sometimes be seen in shoals ruffling the surface when the loch is calm. Beinn Eighe is Britain’s oldest National Nature Reserve. It was set up in 1951 primarily to protect the ancient pinewood west of Kinlochewe, but the reserve embraces a vast area of 48 square kilometres stretching from loch-side to mountain top. A huge cluster of rugged peaks, ridges and scree-covered slopes between Loch Maree and Glen Torridon forms part of this national jewel, most of which is owned by Scottish Natural Heritage.
Size: 5288px × 3512px
Location: Loch Marree, Kinlochewe. Wester Ross. Highland Region. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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