Fraserburgh’s ‘Beastie Club’ will be introducing a new species of fish to the town this weekend in a move to protect the local environment. From Saturday, ‘Yellow Fish’ will begin appearing in gutters and near drains as part of an awareness campaign supported by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the North of Scotland Water Authority.

Around 20 - 25 kids from the Beastie Club, organised by Buchan Countryside Group, will be painting the brightly coloured fish in the town. They will also be putting up eye-catching posters and delivering fishy postcards which give supporting information and advice.

Mark Wells, SEPA’s Education Officer, explains: “Many people don’t know that road drains are only meant for rainwater and usually lead to the nearest stream. Pouring paint stripper, grease, oil, bleach or detergent down the drain could seriously harm the environment. It’s also illegal, with a maximum fine of £20,000. The number of oil pollution incidents in Scotland has been increasing over the past few years.

“It’s vital that people dispose of substances like these properly. Even tiny amounts entering a burn or a river can have a devastating effect on local wildlife. When river insects are affected there is a knock-on impact for future fish populations.”

Photo opportunity: you can catch the Beastie Club in action at the NOSWA office, Maconochie Road, Fraserburgh at 3.40pm on Monday 24 September.

SEPA’s advice is to:

• take waste oil to an oil-recycling bank (call free on 0800 66 33 66 to find your nearest bank)
  
• until specialist facilities are available, keep varnishes, preservatives, paints etc in their tins or containers and dispose of them with the normal rubbish collection
  
• find out more by visiting www.sepa.org.uk/yellowfish
  
• join the campaign by contacting Mark Wells on 01786 457700 or mark.wells@sepa.org.uk
  

ENDS