Border Esk, River Eden and Solway Firth Net Limitation and Byelaws 2018

Overview

We are consulting on our assessment of the Border Esk and River Eden salmon and sea trout stocks and the proposed new regulations that are designed to provide protection for those stocks.

Previous time-limited regulations for salmon and sea trout fishing on the Border Esk and River Eden, and the Solway Firth expired in November 2017 and need to be replaced. In addition, the Border Esk and River Eden salmon populations are declining and so are in need of more protection than previously, when stocks were higher than they are at present.

We think that this consultation will be of particular interest to anyone who fishes for salmon and sea trout on the Border Esk, River Eden or Solway Firth. This includes residents, businesses, recreational and commercial river users, charities, statutory organisations and members of the public.

We want to hear your thoughts, comments and opinions on the Border Esk, River Eden salmon and sea trout assessments and proposed new regulations.

Why your views matter

Previous time-limited regulations for salmon and sea trout fishing on the Border Esk, River Eden and the Solway Firth expired in November 2017 and in the context of declining stocks these need to be replaced.

What happens next

Throughout the consultation we will look to make all comments (excluding personal information) publicly available on the Environment Agency’s online consultation portal. This includes comments received online, by email, post and by fax, unless you have specifically requested that we keep your response confidential. We will not publish names of individuals who respond, but we will publish the name of the organisation for those responses made on behalf of organisations.

If you respond online or provide us with an email address, we will acknowledge your response. After the consultation has closed a summary of the responses will be published on our website. We will contact you to let you know when this is available.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we may be required to publish your response to this consultation, but will not include any personal information. If you have requested your response to be kept confidential, we may still be required to provide a summary of it.

We are seeking to have new regulations in place in readiness for the 2018 season.