Fishery Management Planning

Although fishery management plans have been produced in parts of Scotland for some time, there is no formal requirement for and no comprehensive network of such plans. RAFTS and its members have now taken forward a national  programme of fishery management planning supported by a grant of £400k from the Scottish Government.

The fishery management planning project has now delivered:

• A network of fishery management plans prepared by fishery trusts and participating District Salmon Fishery Boards across Scotland – the plans can be viewed HERE
• An ongoing programme of genetic sampling and analysis of Atlantic salmon populations to support local management through the better understanding of in river genetic populations and variation  – see HERE; and
• A wide and varied suite of projects implementing fishery management plans across Scotland reflecting local management priorities.

These plans were finalised following a period of public consultation and review, taking into account the fish populations and fisheries within each plan area and the problems and range of management actions required locally. These plans will form the basis upon which our important and valuable fish populations and fisheries will be managed in the years to come.

The production of such plans for the first time will allow the sector to play an increasingly full and positive role in environmental management and protection in Scotland by, for example, providing a means to link and support, and be supported and recognised by, other initiatives including:

• Water Framework Directive implementation;
• River Basin and Area Management Plan preparation and implementation:
• Development planning;
• Management of designated conservation sites and areas;
• Catchment and coastal zone management plans;
• Local Biodiversity Action Plans; and
• Developing Biosecurity action plans

Atlantic Salmon Genetic Sampling and Analysis:

The need to better understand the genetic populations and differences of Atlantic salmon between and within rivers is of increasing importance to fishery managers. This knowledge allows them to refine management decisions and strategies to recognise, accommodate and protect individual populations.

Recognising this developing field and capability RAFTS and its members are working in partnership with Marine Scotland Science to provide a dedicated resource to analyse and interpret genetic samples for members. This staff resource is analysing samples taken by trusts against a sample network designed to answer management questions. This collaboration is providing an unprecedented level of coordinated genetic sampling and analysis of Atlantic salmon in Scotland and complements other studies complete, current or in the future.

Click here for further information on this project.

Projects to Implement the Plans:

Fishery management plans must not become moribund documents. Therefore, an ongoing process of plan implementation is underway by fisheries trusts and their partners all across Scotland.

RAFTS is coordinating and supporting it’s members in an ongoing process of plan implementation using the grant from Scottish Government as initial funding to be matched and multiplied to deliver maximum benefit and value throughout plan implementation. RAFTS and its members are able to seek and secure additional project funding as well as being well placed to use the significant body of volunteer good will and labour available to better manage our fisheries.

If you are interested in supporting the implementation of fishery management plans please contact RAFTS or your local fishery trust in the first instance.

Managing the Process:

RAFTS leads the management and coordination of the fishery management planning and implementation process for and with its members.

A Liaison Group has been formed with representatives of RAFTS, RAFTS members, Marine Scotland Science and the Scottish Government to guide and oversee the process.

Individual fisheries trusts and DSFBs are responsible for the delivery and reporting of plan implementation projects to RAFTS and for the Liaison Group.

Delivering Value:

RAFTS and its members are committed to delivering value from the grant from Scottish Government. The Scottish Government grant has been multiplied in value many times to deliver work in areas of plan preparation, genetic sampling and analysis and implementation project delivery.