ADVENTURERS WANTED Dunblane Boys’ Brigade: Places are available for boys in P4 and P5 in the Junior Section, which provides an exciting mix of activities on Fridays between 6.10-7.45pm at the Cathedral Hall.

Opportunities include weekly sports and games, gaining badges through activities such as cooking, craft, music, science, community, finding out about faith, weekends away, day trips, local competitions and lots more.

Also, P7 boys are welcome to join the Company Section that meets between 7.45-10.00pm on Fridays and on alternate Sunday mornings and evenings.

If your son is interested, please call 01786 821387 or email info@dunblanebb.org.uk for more details.

Last week saw both badminton teams exit the national competition, with the ‘B’ team losing to the very-experienced and professionally-coached 1st Largs BB, while the ‘A’ team lost a much closer game on a tie-break to 2nd Gourock. There was success for the table tennis ‘B’ team, however, who overcame 1st Stewarton BB 5-4 in their match on Sunday evening and who now progress to the Scottish quarter-finals.

Fifteen boys enjoyed a great weekend in Liverpool, taking in a tour of Anfield stadium, the many museums of the city, the Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey and the Williamson Tunnels.

The officers and boys would like to remind parents, friends and supporters that if you shop online at all during January (and beyond), you can make a free donation to the club’s funds by finding your favourite retailer using the Easy Fundraising page at easyfundraising.org.uk/25thStirlingBB. From there, retailers will make between a one and 10 per cent donation to the brigade if you click the link to their site through the club’s page.

For more information on the Boys’ Brigade in Dunblane, please see www.dunblanebb.org.uk, facebook.com/dunblanebb or call 01786 823192.

FISH-CLASS RESEARCH The University of Stirling has contributed to a major international research project to investigate the dangerous pressure China’s aquaculture industry is putting on world fish supplies.

In a new paper in the journal Science, the researchers offer the clearest picture to date of the enormous impact China is having on wild fisheries and present a more sustainable alternative to the current practice of using wild-caught fish to feed farm-raised fish.

China is the world’s leading producer, consumer and processor of fish, contributing one-third of the global supply. Its booming aquaculture industry relies increasingly on fishmeal made from wild-caught fish, a practice which depletes wild fish stocks and strains fragile ocean ecosystems.

One of the researchers - the University of Stirling’s Wenbo Zhang, who conducted the research whilst completing his PhD at the University’s internationally renowned Institute of Aquaculture, said: “Our research shows that so significant is China’s impact on the world’s seafood supply chain – the future availability of global seafood will be dependent on how China develops its aquaculture and aqua feeds sector.” Fishing in the coastal waters of China is poorly-regulated and often indiscriminant. The result is that large volumes of assorted “trash fish” – species that are undesirable for human consumption – end up in animal feeds, including in fishmeal that is fed to farm-raised fish. Many of the species of wild fish used for feeds have been fully exploited or overexploited, and reducing this demand will help protect fragile ocean ecosystems.

One promising solution is to recycle the waste by-products from seafood processing plants across China. This waste, which can be 30-70 per cent of the incoming volume of fish, is often discarded or discharged into nearby waters.

The team’s analysis shows that these processing wastes could satisfy between half and two-thirds of the current volume of fishmeal used by Chinese fish farmers, replacing much of the wild fish currently used in feeds.

Zhang added: “Issues of quality and food safety are two possible obstacles to implementing this fish processing waste alternative because the waste is lower in protein than wild-caught fish and its use also raises concerns about contamination and disease transmission.

“However, these concerns could be addressed by adding alternative plant-based protein sources to the fish feed, and through conducting further research on the safety risks and introducing more efficient regulating of using fish processing waste.” Lead author, Ling Cao, a postdoctoral scholar at the Center on Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University said: “This is a critical juncture for China. If the country makes proactive reforms to its aquaculture sector, like using fish processing wastes instead of wild fish, and generally reducing the amount of fishmeal in aqua feeds, it can greatly improve the sustainability of the industry.

“If not, the consequences for the entire global seafood supply chain are going to be really serious.” Led by Stanford University, USA, the research brought together a consortium of scientists from around the world. Zhang worked with colleagues from Leiden University, the Netherlands; the University of Wollongong, Australia; Stockholm University, Sweden; The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Sweden; and Shanghai Ocean University, China.

The University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture is the leading international centre in its field and the largest of its kind in the world. It brings together cross-disciplinary, world class researchers to meet the wide range of challenges faced as aquaculture grows to meet global demands. For more info, go to www.aqua.stir.ac.uk.

BID TO WIN YOUR VOTE TO IMPROVE TOWN Dunblane BID: Between 16 January and 27 February Dunblane businesses will vote on whether the town becomes a Business Improvement District (BID). This exciting opportunity is being led by the Discover Dunblane BID team and steering group and is supported by local businesses. The BID is also strongly supported by Stirling Council.

The BID system is already in operation in more than 25 other Scottish towns, and involves the local business sector developing, managing and paying for a five-year scheme to boost the local economy.

Following a yes vote, Stirling Council is to contribute £10,000 to the BID in 2015, with local businesses collectively contributing approximately £35,000 a year over a five-year period. Stirling Council will work in partnership with the BID team and other relevant organisations to ensure that the scheme secures the maximum possible return.

If the ballot is successful, it is hoped that the BID will start on 1 May.

Tom Casey, chair of the Discover Dunblane BID steering group, said: “Our vision is to make our community a more vibrant, healthier and inclusive place to live, work and visit.

“This investment will greatly assist in delivering our plans for 2015 and beyond. Not only are we supported by Stirling Council, but also locally we have the full support of Dunblane Community Council and a very strong partnership with Dunblane Development Trust.

“Now the Christmas period is behind us we will be making concerted efforts to re-engage businesses throughout Dunblane to ensure they have all the relevant information on the benefits that collective working and investment can bring.

“We already have committed support from many businesses both large - Dunblane Hydro Hotel and Marks and Spencer - to small - Clarity Wealth Management and Neroli’s.” Part of this engagement process is an open event on Thursday 28 January from 6.30pm at The Riverside in Dunblane where businesses will be given the opportunity to discuss and ask questions regarding the plan to members of the BID team.

Ballot papers were issued on 16 January. Local businesses will have 42 days to return them, following which they will be counted and the results announced within one week.

It is time for the Dunblane businesses to have their voices heard and make the town a destination of choice.

For more information, go to www.discoverdunblane.co.uk or email tom@discoverdunblane.co.uk.

SCHOOL TO OPEN ITS GATES Beaconhurst School will be opening its doors to prospective parents and pupils next Thursday afternoon.

Staff are hosting an Open Afternoon on Thursday 29 January between 2pm and 4pm with guided tours of both the junior and senior schools available.

The event is an opportunity for people to find out more about what’s on offer at the independent Bridge of Allan school and to gain first-hand experience of its ethos and curriculum.

Anyone interested in coming along should phone the school on 01786 832146 to arrange a time for a guided tour.

More information about the school is also available on the website at www.beaconhurst.com.

DICK LEE'S SWINGTET Dunblane Cathedral Arts Guild presents Dick Lee’s Swingtet.

Dick Lee (clarinet, sax, bass clarinet and recorder), Marcus Ford (acoustic guitar), Mike Nisbet (electric guitar) and Owen MacDonald (double bass) will be warming the Cathedral Hall with the nostalgic glow of swing jazz on Sunday (25 January) from 3pm.

Entry is £9 adult, £2 child/student/unemployed. Tickets can be bought on the door or in advance from Smallprint in Dunblane.

AGM The Annual General Meeting of Friends of Bridge of Allan will be held on Thursday 29 January at 7pm in the Allan Centre.

YOUTH BURNS SUPPER The Dunblane Centre’s annual youth Burns Supper will take place on Friday 23 January.

With songs, poems and recitation as well as a delicious meal of haggis, neeps and tatties, this is always a fantastic event.

Tickets are £10. Email contactus@dunblanecentre.co.uk to book your spot.

BUSINESS MEETING'S BUSY AGENDA Rotary Club of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane: At last week’s business meeting, president Peter Farr asked conveners to update members on forthcoming plans for the next few months.

First on the agenda is the annual Burns Supper on 29 January.

The club is delighted that Dunblane High School musicians will be returning to entertain them.

Queen Victoria School Interact Club’s Ryan McDougall will be the piper for the evening, while Hannah Sloan will perform the Selkirk Grace. Other performers include club members and invited guests.

The annual Foundation Quiz will be held on 27 February and this is quickly followed by the first heat of the Primary School Quiz to be held in the Bridge of Allan Parish Church Hall on 6 March.

The Rotary will once again host the Stirling University Debating Society for their annual debate, which will be held at the Westlands Hotel on 26 March.

Finally, the meeting was pleased to note there is a full team in place for the next Rotary Year, which starts on 1 July.

The lineup is: President – Mary Fraser, President Elect – Nick Rawlings, President Nominee – George Morrison, Secretary – Iain Fraser, Treasurer – Alan Lee and Assistant Treasurer – Gordon Robb. Committee conveners will be appointed over the next couple of months.