An agreement to maintain access for local anglers to one of Scotland’s most important salmon fishing locations is nearing completion.
The Tweed is one of the top salmon fishing rivers in Scotland, and the section near Peebles was, until recently, managed by Borders Council under an agreement from Crown Estate Scotland.
Following on from the Council deciding to relinquish this arrangement, Crown Estate Scotland has announced that it is close to agreeing a lease with the newly formed Peebles Salmon Anglers Club for the same stretch of river, thereby ensuring that local anglers are able to continue enjoying access. The final lease is expected to be completed in the coming days.
Crown Estate Scotland manages the Crown rights to salmon and sea trout fishing in locations on more than 50 rivers around Scotland, and works with local clubs and associations to ensure local access is protected wherever possible.
Fiona Simpson, Asset Manager for Crown Estate Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to have worked so closely with The Peebles Salmon Anglers Club. We’re now very near to signing a lease with them for the salmon fishing rights on this part of the Tweed, and as a result, ensure that local anglers are able to continue fishing on a river which is a world-renowned location for salmon fishing.
“Angling clubs and associations play an important role in communities across Scotland, including making a valuable contribution to the local economy. They also face many challenges, so we’re always looking at ways in which we can support them.
Kenny Annand, from the Peebles Salmon Angling Club, said: “The newly formed Peebles Salmon Angling Club are most grateful to Crown Estate Scotland and their managing agents for all the encouragement and assistance in enabling the club to lease the beat on a five-year basis.
“The new club is keen to work closely with Crown Estate Scotland and their agents to ensure they are happy with the way the beat is managed. Hopefully this will secure the future of local salmon angling long into the future”
Crown Estate Scotland has a policy of trying to keep salmon fishing rights local and to favour letting to angling clubs and associations if possible. This includes working with existing tenants to help maintain local access at a reasonable cost, and supporting new clubs to take on salmon angling rights.
In addition, Crown Estate Scotland has contributed funding towards the Atlantic Salmon Trust’s Missing Salmon project, which is researching the reasons behind the recent declines in salmon returning to Scotland’s rivers. This year Crown Estate Scotland will also be helping to fund juvenile salmon surveys under the National Electrofishing Programme for Scotland with Marine Scotland.
