Operation and Structure

Solway Fish has a number of aspects to its operating structure as decribed below.

Solway Firth Partnership: The Solway Firth Partnership role in Solway Fish is that of coordination of its activities and assisting in taking the initiative forward.

Solway Fish Forum: The Forum meets 3 - 4 times per year, the meetings provide an opportunity for open discussion, enable the funding and working groups to report back to the main forum and provide an opportunity for national stakeholders to interact with the local industry.

Funding Group: The funding group oversees the financial management of Solway Fish and provides a means to look for funding to support projects generated by the working groups.

Solway Fish Chairperson: The Chairpersons role is to represent Solway Fish at appropriate meetings, promote the initiative and facilitate meetings of the forum.

Working Groups: A number of working groups will be established as part of the initiative and they will focus on specific sectors developing related projects. Areas that the working groups will cover include, inshore fisheries management, aquaculture, recreational sea angling, marketing, processing and heritage fisheries.

Communication: Effective communication is essential to the initiative and is provided by the website, mailing list, notices, press coverage and a number of other mediums.

An overview of the strategic objectives of Solway Fish is provided below for reference:

Economic/Social/Environmental Benefits

• MANAGING LOCAL RESOURCES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
  • Looking after the resource
    • Monitoring the science
    • Visible management for sustainability
    • Demonstrating knowledge and stewardship
    • Maintaining and promoting local traditions
    • Move towards marine stewardship role
    • Environmental integration
  • Maintaining livelihoods
    • Managing for quality
    • Working to keep opportunities local
    • Identifying & exporting commercial activities
    • Presenting a coherent front to gain advantage
    • Improved business management and training
• PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT
  • Influencing decisions on the Solway and outside
    • Having an opinion gathering system
    • Having clear strategic objectives
    • Actively contributing to key debates
    • Managing news
    • Improved co-operation through strategic alliances and vertical integration
  • Marketing the Solway and its products
    • Building an image
    • Promoting an image
    • Improved selling
    • Diversification
    • Improve supply chain
  • Staying on top of the Subject
    • Operating a data collation system
    • Operating an information distribution system
    • Research