2024-03-31-accounts - The Mahseer Trust

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

		Period start date	Period start date	Period start date			Period end date	Period end date	Period end date
From					To
	1st		April	2023		31st		March	2024

SECTION A:

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Charity name	Charity name	Charity name	The Mahseer Trust	The Mahseer Trust	The Mahseer Trust	The Mahseer Trust
Other names charity is known by			N/A
Registered charity number (if any)			1167056
Charity’s principal address			Capel Saron
			School Road
			Fairbourne
			Gwynedd
			LL38 2RQ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Trustee name	Office (if any)			Dates acted, if not for the whole year			Mechanism of appointment
Adrian Pinder	Chair			Whole year			Majority vote of trustees
Ian Pett	Treasurer			Whole year			Majority vote of trustees
Andrew Harrison	Secretary			Whole year			Majority vote of trustees
Derek D’Souza	India Regional Lead			Whole year			Majority vote of trustees

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any (For example, any custodian trustees)
Name					Dates acted, if not for the whole year
N/A

Names and addresses of advisors (Optional information)
Type of advisor		Name				Address
Freshwater ecosystem services		Dr Mark Everard				Associate Professor of Ecosystem Services, Universityof the West of England(UWE Bristol)

Name of Chief Executive or names of senior staff members						(Optional information)

Name		Dates acted, if not for the whole year
N/A

Names and addresses of advisors (Optional information)
Type of advisor	Name	Address
Freshwater ecosystem services	Dr Mark Everard	Associate Professor of Ecosystem Services, Universityof the West of England(UWE Bristol)

Name of Chief Executive or names	of senior staff members	(Optional information)

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Steve Lockett (Chief Executive)

SECTION B:	STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT	STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document (e.g. Trust Deed, Constitution)		Constitution, last amended 12/05/2016
How the charity is constituted (e.g. Trust, Association, Company)		Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Trustee selection methods (e.g. appointed by, elected by)		Majority vote by existing trustees

Additional governance issues (Optional information)
Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant, about: ● policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; ● the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; ● relationship with any related parties; ● trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.		The charity is run entirely on a voluntary basis, with no paid employees. The organisational structure comprises a number of positions: ● Trustees(‘Members’ of the CIO) Responsible for management of the charity and all decisions. Only trustees having voting rights at board level. ● Officers Support the charity’s objectives and closely involved with planning, but no voting rights at board level. ● Advisors Support the charity’s objectives and provide advice on planning and other matters, but no voting rights at board level. ● Patrons Support the charity’s objectives and assist with raising the profile of Mahseer Trust, but no voting rights at board level. ● Honorary Members Formally recognised by the trustees as contributing significantly to the charity’s objectives, but no voting rights at board level. ● Supporters Individuals who pay an annual or one-off (lifetime) subscription to the charity to support the charity’s objectives, but no voting rights at board level. Trustees receive a ‘Trustee Induction Pack’, including: ● MT Governing Document ● MT Data Protection Policy ● MT Policy on the Acceptance and Refusal of Gifts and Donations ● MT Trustee Code of Governance ● MT Conflict of Interest Policy

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		● MT Vulnerable People Policy ● Charity Commission ‘The Essential Trustee’ ● Charity Commission guidance on Public Benefit ● MT Trustee Declaration (Sign and return) ● MT Trustee Induction Table (Sign and return)

SECTION C:	OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Summary of the Objects of the charity set out in its Governing Document.		The Objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit, to advance education, and environmental protection and improvement; (a) in countries where mahseer species are present by promoting, sustaining and increasing individual and collective knowledge and understanding of mahseer species, and skills and expertise in conservation and aquaculture; (b) in the wider world, to carry out and contribute to research to add to the collective knowledge and understanding of the mahseer species, their life cycle, habitat and their conservation; (c) to contribute to the education and development of young people by training them in conservation; (d) to contribute to the conservation of mahseer species in their natural environment and to encourage and assist international knowledge transfer.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these Objects.		With reference to the key objectives defined above: Capacity building ● May 2023: Discussions between Steve Lockett and Raphael Glemet and Vishwaranjan Sinha of IUCN on ways to utilise mahseer migration during planning of transboundary river issues. ● May 2023: Agreed ways ahead for mutual working with River Research Centre, Thrissur, Kerala, India. ● June 2023: Discussions on creating a community river conservation programme in Manipur, working with Rameshori Yumnam of Manipur University (unfortunately local communal tension has postponed this project). ● June 2023: In light of proposed river ‘development’ on Mula- Mutha river of Pune, India, concerned local Darab Nagarwalla requested information about the historic importance of the river for mahseer migration and possibilities for future restoration. ● June 2023: Working with Vinni Jain of IUCN Otter Specialist Group to consider how human activity impacts otters and mahseer (prey) in light of their findings (Living alongside otters: examining human-otter interactions and attitudes towards

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otters in Central India for conservation in shared landscapes. Jain & Karanth 2023).

June 2023: Coordinated outputs with kayaking group of Maharashtra, India who have catalogued impacts upon mahseer in Vaitarna River from dams and temple-goers.
June to December 2023: Assembled coalition of Mahseer Trust, Bournemouth University, University of the West of England, Paani.earth (river monitoring NGO, Bengaluru, India), River Otter Conservancy (Bengaluru, India), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology (Kerala, India), and River Research Centre to write and submit a comprehensive action plan in respect of Indianapolis Zoo’s Saving Species Challenge funding opportunity (reached longlist).
September 2023: Dialogue between Steve Lockett and Kumar Paudel of Greenhood Nepal to support Elisha Ghimire in field studies for her MSc on mahseers of Karnali River.
October 2023: Steve Lockett and James Smith of NHS England begin review of policies and prepare additional policy documents to fill current gaps.
November 2023: Economic survey completed to assess Angling as Economic Driver and Conservation Tool. Compiles dataset as requested by Indianapolis Zoo for SSC.
February 2024: discussions with Sinsamout Onboundisane of Fishbio (Laos) to consider future field research and to help develop genomic sequencing of freshwater fishes in-country.
February 2024: Steve Lockett meets with Rajeev Raghavan to discuss future project opportunities.
February 2024: Steve Lockett and Rajeev Raghavan travel to Coimbatore, India to finalise Save Our Species-funded project with lead organisation Zoo Outreach Organisation.
Ongoing: Continued attempts to plan an International Mahseer Conference (IMC) 4.

Research

April 2023: Research project to sequence whole genome of the Critically Endangered hump-backed mahseer, Tor remadevii was approved.
April 2023: Approved purchasing of consumables for Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) to enable future gene sequencing.
August 2023: Steve Lockett, Rajeev Raghavan and Dencin Rons Thampy carried out a literature review to support Dencin’s

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fieldwork investigation of fishes of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. A checklist paper database is finalised with the expectation that it will be published and adopted by Kerala Forest Department for their freshwater management plans.
August 2023: Steve Lockett visited Pitt-Rivers museum, Oxford, UK to discuss mahseer exhibits with the curator and to catalogue the cultural use of mahseers.

Education and Outreach

November 2023: Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, India once again uses Mahseer Trust’s EM2 river modelling table for education during Forests of Life one-week festival.
February 2024: Minute publish article on mahseer conservation with interviews of Adrian Pinder.

International knowledge transfer

October 2023: Adrian Pinder and Steve Lockett assess and approve details to be released by Kerala Forest Department as Mahseers of Kerala information poster campaign.
February 2024: Discussions with Debajit Sarma ICAR-CIFE (Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Fisheries Education) request that Mahseer Trust co-host an International Mahseer Conference (IMC).
February 2024: Mark Everard developed a document 'Wise Water Solutions in Chhattisgarh and Andra Pradesh', as yet unpublished, documenting rural water management solutions benefitting people and overall river health.
March 2024: Steve Lockett is keynote speaker on day two (World Water Day) of 4th Odisha River Conference, Angul, Odisha, India during technical session on Rivers, Fish, Societies and Livelihoods.
March 2024: Discussion on Brahmaputra flooding and associated human-wildlife issues with Steve Lockett, Anuja Mittal (Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises Foundation) and Gopakumar Menon (River Otter Conservancy).

We confirm the Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further N/A statements, where relevant, about: ● policy on grant making;

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policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

SECTION D:	ACHIEVEMENTS	AND PERFORMANCE

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year		Publication ● March 2024: Conservation action plan for Critically Endangered hump-backed mahseer_Tor remadevii_is completed. Recognised by Indianapolis Zoo as a comprehensive framework for future actions.

SECTION E:	FINANCIAL REVIEW

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves.		The Mahseer Trust maintains an operational reserve of £5,000 (five thousand pounds), which is deemed sufficient to meet any terminal liabilities that might arise on the closure of the Trust. These funds are held in a bank account. Future levels of reserves will be determined in accordance with any changes in the Trust's liabilities arising from changes in its levels of activity and expenditure.
Details of any funds materially in deficit		N/A

Further financial review details (Optional		information)
Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant about: ● the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); ● how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; ● investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.		Income for the year 2023-24 totalled £985. Supporter Subscriptions totalled £280. Donations totalled £55. Bank interest totalled £650. Gift Aid remains to be claimed on donations totalling £296 made in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Expenditure totalled £2,173. A total of £831 was spent on Conservation activities in India. £1,074 was spent on Outreach activities in India. Administration costs totalled £268. Nothing was spent on Marketing or Miscellaneous activities in 2023-24. Funds held at the end of the reporting year totalled £43,013, well above our operational reserve.

SECTION F:	OTHER OPTIONAL INFORMATION

N/A

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SECTION G: DECLARATION


The trustees below declare that they have approved the trustees report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
	Trustee 1	Trustee 2
Signatures
Full names	Dr Andrew Harrison	Dr Adrian Pinder
Position	Secretary	Chair
Date	21/01/2025	21/01/2025

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Charity Name	No (if any)
The Mahseer Trust	1167056
Receipts and Payments Accounts

CC16a

Period start date Period end date For the period from To 01/04/2023 31/03/2024

Section A Receipts and Payments

	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 55 280 - 650 - - - -	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 55 280 - 650 - - - -	Last year to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations	55	-	-	55	55
Supporter subscriptions	280	-	-	280	60
Reimbursement	-	-	-	-	167
Income	650	-	-	650	200
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	985	-	-	985	482
	- -
A2 Asset and investment sales
	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*	-	-	-	-	-
**Total receipts **
	985	-	-	985	482
	- 268 831 1,074 - - - - -	- - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - - -	- 268 831 1,074 - - - - -
A3 Payments
Marketing	-	-	-	-	-
Administration	268	-	-	268	370
Conservation	831	-	-	831	2,596
Outreach	1,074	-	-	1,074	153
Miscellaneous	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
**Sub total **	2,173	-	-	2,173	3,119
	- -	- -	- -	- -
A4 Asset and investmentpurchases
	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-
**Sub total **	-	-	-	-	-
*Total payments*
	2,173	-	-	2,173	3,119
	- 1,188 - 44,201	- - -	- - -	- 1,188 - 44,201
*Net of receipts/(payments)*	- 1,188	-	-	- 1,188	- 2,637
A5 Transfers between funds	-	-	-	-	-
A6 Cash funds lastyear end	44,201	-	-	44,201	25,028
*Cash funds this year end*	43,013	-	-	43,013	22,391

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories	(Agree balances with R&P account(s)) Details Paypal Account Lloyds Bank Account *Total cash funds* Details Details Details Details Signature	Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 226 43,975 -	Restricted funds to nearest £ - - -	Endowment funds to nearest £
B1 Cash funds	Paypal Account	226	-	-
	Lloyds Bank Account	43,975	-	-
		-	-	-
		44,201	-	-
		Agreement Error OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - Print Name Ian Pett (Treasurer) Adrian Pinder (Chair)		OK
				Endowment funds to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets				-
				-
				-
				-
				-
				Current value (optional)
B3 Investment assets				-
				-
				-
				-
				-
				Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use				-
				-
				-
				-
				-
				When due (optional)
B5 Liabilities




				Date of approval
Signed by two trustees on behalf of all the trustees		Ian Pett (Treasurer)
		Adrian Pinder (Chair)