Scottish Invasive Species Initiative

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) is an exciting and ambitious partnership project set up to tackle invasive non-native species alongside rivers and water courses in northern Scotland. We are one of ten fishery trust/board partners in SISI and are working to deliver the project across our catchments.

The SISI project area is vast, covering an area of 29,500km2 – over a third of Scotland (an area larger than the country of Wales!) and encompasses Perthshire, Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland.

Invasive non-native species (INNS) have a significant negative impact on freshwater and riparian environments – they can be responsible for the decline of native species and increase bank erosion. The aim of invasive species management is to halt and control the spread of invasive species, undertake habitat restoration and encourage the return of native wildlife.

The target and priority invasive species

The key target species for the SISI project are Giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, American skunk cabbage, White butterbur and the American mink.

SISI works in partnership with the fishery trusts, to support, train and equip volunteers with the skills and equipment they need to enable control of invasive species at a local level, embedded in the community. The SISI project is funded until March 2026, when we hope that local community control of invasive species will continue – providing a sustainable long-term solution to control.