The Scottish Freshwater Group (SFG) held its centenary meeting this week (19-20 April 2018) at the University of Stirling, kindly supported by the Scottish Government as part of the Scotland Hydro Nation programme.
The SFG was conceived back in 1967 by fish biologist Prof Peter Maitland and has met twice per year ever since, with all but a couple of these meetings being hosted by the University of Stirling.
From the time it was founded the SFG has provided an informal and friendly environment for students, professionals from conservation and environment agencies and NGOs, practitioners and academics to meet up and exchange ideas on a huge array of topics, including salmon fisheries, water supply, monitoring ecosystem health, biodiversity conservation, archaeology and art.
The anniversary meeting brought together 130 delegates to hear talks from more than 35 presenters over two days with a spot of ceilidh dancing thrown in for good measure.
Current SFG co-ordinator Dr Pauline Lang of SEPA said, "One hundred consecutive meetings is a remarkable legacy from the SFG founders, and speaks for the continuing interest and high profile of the freshwater environment in Scotland.
The SFG will, however, be focusing on the challenges that the next 50 years will bring to sustain and enhance the huge social and economic benefits we get from Scotland’s freshwaters."
Related links
Past SFG meetings and summary reports
Scottish Government Hydro Nation
Scottish Freshwater Group on Twitter: @Scottish_FwGrp
Laurence Carvalho chaired a session and Linda May was among the speakers at the centenary event. Laurence is also a member of the SFG100 Organising Committee.