Welcome to Solway Fish

Solway Fish is an industry forum and sustainable development initiative for the Solway fisheries sector. Its roots lie in the findings from the consultation sessions conducted with the fisheries sector around the Solway Firth at the end of 2004 and recent policy developments on both sides of the border.

Consultation highlighted a number of issues including the need for improved communication and more integrated working in the sector. One of the main concerns was the poorly developed opportunity for the economic development of the sector combined with need for its sustainable management.

It was universally agreed in the consultation that the best way forward to address these and future issues was to establish a Solway wide industry forum. Solway Fish is being established to meet this requirement and is open to all members of the sector. Meetings will be held at different locations around the Firth providing an opportunity for everyone to be engaged.

One of the most important aspects of Solway Fish will be to provide a means by which local people can effectively influence policy. Solway Fish will help to bring information to people and will provide a means of making a co-ordinated response to new proposals. Key to this process is the appointment of an independent Chair in order to champion the sector locally and nationally.

To help support the main forum and develop its recommendations and project ideas a number of sector specific topic groups will be established. These may focus on areas such as inshore fisheries management, aquaculture, quality and marketing, recreational sea angling and heritage fisheries.

The Solway Firth Partnership will coordinate Solway Fish initially and funding has been established for 2 years with contributions made by Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, Cumbria County Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, English Nature and Dumfries and Galloway Council.

In summary, Solway Fish represents a fantastic opportunity by which we can bring the Solway fisheries sector ahead of the game, providing new opportunities and ensuring its future.