Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect rare forms of arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in Loch Rannoch.
The importance of Loch Rannoch as a site for Arctic charr sympatric divergence is well documented. Loch Rannoch is included within the boundary of the River Tay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and as such it receives the highest level of environmental protection possible. In addition to the statutory protection afforded to the site through its SAC status, the freshwater habitat is also protected through River Basin Management Planning. It also receives wider protection against the threat of invasive species through the regulation of fish movements (through the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003) and the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)).
Investigations have been undertaken to determine the fish species present in Lochs Rannoch, Monaghan and Finnart. SEPA have received the results of environmental DNA samples and have begun exploring the feasibility of potential management responses with NatureScot regarding the presence of non-native fish in Lochs Monaghan and Finnart. SEPA staff have also been on-site to examine the hydrological connectivity between the lochs, to inform these discussions.