A RECORD number of alleged breaches of Loch Lomond’s water safety byelaws has been recorded by National Park officials so far this year, according to a new report.

Users of jetskis and similar ‘personal water crafts’ accounted for 177 of the 403 alleged byelaw contraventions recorded by rangers from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park since the beginning of January.

The data is revealed in a report on visitor management across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, prepared by national park officials.

According to the report, the 403 alleged byelaw breaches so far this year compares to a previous high of 247 in 2018.

The alleged breaches this year were against 357 registered loch users.

The report says: “The majority of offences related to speeding, display of annual marks and registration numbers or failure to register.

“Personal water craft like jet-skis accounted for 44 per cent of contraventions, followed by motor cruisers (17 per cent) and speedboats (15 per cent).

“To date, six cases have been reported and one is pending report to the procurator fiscal by the National Park Authority for alleged contraventions of the Loch Lomond byelaws.”

The same report reveals that Argyll and Bute Council has issued 2,612 fixed penalty notices in relation to parking during the year, with an increase noted in those given out around Luss.

That compares to 695 notices handed out around the east shore of Loch Lomond by Stirling Council, the local authority for that area.

The report also sets out the actions taken by the park authority and its partners following the deaths of four people in Loch Lomond in the space of a single weekend in July.

Connor Markward, 16, died on Friday, July 23 whilst playing with friends in the loch near Balloch Country Park.

The following day, Edina Olahova, 29, Rana Haris Ali, nine, and Muhammad Asim Riaz, 39, died after getting into difficulty in the water off Pulpit Rock, near Ardlui.

The report says that signs and public rescue equipment (PRE) were upgraded at a number of key locations, while a new water safety advice page was added to the National Park’s website and training was held with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the RNLI and Education Scotland.

The report is due to be considered by members of the park authority's board on Monday, December 13.