Lochfly Invertebrate Surveys Pilot Project
The Lochfly Pilot Project follows in the footsteps of the Freshwater Biological Association’s recent Lakefly pilot in England, working with local Scottish communities to survey freshwater invertebrates in their local lochs, while testing and adapting methodologies from the highly successful Riverfly Monitoring Initiative in a Scottish context.
Safeguarding Scotland’s lochs and the freshwater species they support is essential for the long-term health of Scotland’s population and its economy as well as its natural heritage and wildlife. Lochs are under pressure from pollution, increased nutrients, habitat degradation, and climate change. However, there is currently no country-wide standardized citizen science monitoring in place to detect changes to the health of our lochs and enable action to be taken.
The presence and abundance of the different groups of invertebrates help detect signs of environmental stress often associated with pollution or habitat degradation.
- Name of Project: Lochfly Invertebrate Surveys Pilot Project
- Duration of Project: October 2026 – December 2026
- Location of Project: Lochs across Scotland
- Species benefiting from Project: Lochflies (Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies) and freshwater invertebrates more broadly
- Project funded by: NatureScot
What will the project do?
This project aims to engage communities with their local lochs, helping to build an appreciation and understanding of loch habitats, what influences their health, and which actions they can take on a local and national level to help protect these precious ecosystems.
Data collected through citizen science projects such as Lochfly, reveal trends in water quality and fill information gaps, which ultimately helps to protect and conserve loch habitats, invertebrates and other organisms that rely on them.
Lochfly plans to adapt the pre-existing Lakefly citizen science monitoring programme for Scottish lochs. The project has close links with the long-running Riverfly project which Buglife championed in Scotland through the hugely successful Guardians of our Rivers initiative.
March Brown Mayfly (Rhithrogena germanica) Planned outcomes:
- Determine whether the pre-existing Lakefly methodology is applicable to Scottish lochs and what adaptations may be required.
- Identify at least three lochs and three community groups for engagement.
- Carry out Lochfly surveys as part of workshops with local volunteers.
- Gather feedback from volunteers via a survey form and webinar.
- Report outcomes of the pilot and feasibility study to the Riverfly Partnership and NatureScot.
- Develop a strategy for funding and delivering Lochfly across Scotland.
How can I get involved?
Lochfly is currently a pilot project and we are directly contacting community groups in specific areas. Stay tuned to hear more about the project as it develops!
In the meantime, Guardians of our Rivers is a citizen science project which aims to monitor and protect Scotland’s watercourses. It has over 60 active groups across Scotland. If you are interested in getting involved, find out more on the Guardians of our Rivers Next Steps project page.
Riverfly ID Tray © Buglife This project is funded by NatureScot.
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