Landmark agreement secures local management of salmon fishing rights

Crown Estate Scotland and Forth District Salmon Fishery Board (Forth DSFB) have signed an agreement which will see Forth DSFB take on extra responsibility over salmon fishing rights across a large area of eastern Scotland.

The agreement, part of Crown Estate Scotland’s Local Pilots Management Scheme, is the first of a number of similar agreements expected to be put in place over the coming months.

Crown Estate Scotland launched the Local Pilots Management Scheme in 2018 to create opportunities for communities to get more involved in managing parts of the Scottish Crown Estate. It is part of a wider step-change in how the Estate is managed, ensuring communities and local authorities have more say and influence.

Some of the key aspects of the agreement announced today include:

Crown Estate Scotland will provide funding to support a project officer employed by Forth DSFB who will deliver the project
Forth DSFB will manage invoicing of rent for leased fishing rights and broker new fishing leases within the district
Forth DSFB will promote fishing / angling relevant to the Scottish Crown Estate including for the wider associated benefits.

The project will also include working with other groups to open up dormant or underutilised fishing and provide a greater variety of fishing opportunities. This is expected to create a greater dynamism for the activity of fishing in the area and provide more options for local people and visitors alike.

Amanda Bryan, Chair of Crown Estate Scotland, said: “This new agreement marks an important step in us working with local communities to help them take on a greater role in managing local assets. We have worked very closely with Forth DSFB to ensure that an agreement has been put in place which will provide value and benefits to the communities it serves. We hope that this will provide a blueprint for how partnerships like this could potentially work in the future.”

John McKenzie, Convener of the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board, said: "Angling on our rivers is an essential part of many people's lives which gets people connected with nature and outdoors, enjoying the peace of the river and developing new skills. We, at the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board, are keen to support all salmon fishing owners and anglers ensuring there is good public access. Working with Crown Estate Scotland on this exciting project will help us achieve this.

"I am also looking forward to welcoming a new member of the team at a time when other opportunities are challenging. Development of the sustainable future of the Forth fishery is at the heart of what we do.”