Carse Of Ae Fish Farm

The Carse of Ae fish farm, fed by the clear unpolluted waters of the river Ae, is ideally placed for the production of premium quality trout to supply a range of local and national markets. The farm was purchased by Barony College in 1984 and has been subsequently upgraded to include a hatchery and concrete raceway unit, circular tanks for on-growing and a series of earth ponds for finishing stock to the high quality standards required by sport fisheries.

In 2000, the farm was awarded the "Quality Trout " standard under the Quality Trout UK scheme and continues to produce fish to this standard.

The Carse of Ae is unusual in that it not only produces premium trout for the market but also provides a valuable resource for training college students and educating school pupils. It has been a favourite visit for educational tour parties in Dumfries & Galloway over the years.

Fish species farmed at the Carse of Ae

The Carse of Ae farm produces principally rainbow trout. Most fish on the farm are female or sexually sterile 'triploids'. Male trout are held as brood stock only as they deteriorate in condition when they sexually mature, becoming unsightly, inedible and ultimately un-saleable. The sexually sterile triploids do not loose condition and feed and grow through out their life. This provides a major advantage to the fish farmers and fishery owners and explains why triploid stock are in such demand.

In addition, we hold some of the latest popular novelties such as 'blue trout' for sale to sport fisheries for restocking. The blue trout is a colour variant of the species rainbow trout, which, along with the golden trout, has gained popularity at some fisheries with anglers.

All of the fish at Carse of Ae belong to the taxanomic group 'salmonidae', commonly known as the Salmon family.