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PART THREE: REALISING THE VISION

3.1 We would expect to realise the vision set out in Part One of this document by adopting the evolutionary approach identified in Part Two. In order to ensure that such evolution is based upon scientific evidence and broad consensus, much work remains to be done.

3.2. Much of what is already taking place within Scottish freshwater fisheries policy is contributing to the realisation of our shared vision and our understanding of the details of how the evolution should progress. Therefore the work outlined in Part Three should be seen as:

• existing activities that have been identified as requiring a heightened effort;
• new priorities for action, that do not imply a reduction of effort in other areas of policy activity;
• priorities for action that will change in relative importance over time, as current challenges are effectively tackled, and new challenges emerge; and
• priorities for action that will require constant monitoring and review, so that progress towards realising the vision is obvious to all stakeholders.

3.3 We propose to undertake activities that will assist us to move towards the realisation of the vision in the following broad categories:

• Technical Aspects of Fish and Fisheries Management
• Fish and Fisheries Management Bodies
• Legislative Requirements
• Organisational Development
• Communication
• Marketing
• Training
• Equality of Access
• Legal Issues Concerning Access
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Fish and Fisheries Management Funding
• Research

The priorities for action identified in Part Three are also shown in more detail (including identified lead body, resource implications and timetable for implementation) in Appendix 2.

Technical Aspects of Fish and Fisheries Management

3.4 Fish and fisheries management at an appropriate scale and to a consistent standard, will be a central base upon which we will realise our shared vision for the sector. One of the principal aims of the Strategy is to move towards the objective that management decisions affecting freshwater fisheries and fish species should be underpinned by scientific evidence. It is recognised that some issues such as habitat management will be very localised, whereas other issues such as acid rain or climate change will have both local and national significance.

3.5 This framework supports the view that recommendations should be made on how to define the scale of fish and fisheries management planning, both at local level and in the way that management planning regimes might be linked together to form larger units.

3.6 Fisheries management decisions are regularly made for individual water bodies. These involve undertaking certain works or practices that are thought to be required in order to enhance the fishery in the area. Over the years, many techniques have been tried though not all have been scientifically evaluated.

3.7 The fundamental premise underpinning our shared vision is that future management regimes will only encourage increased exploitation where stock is shown to have capacity for increased exploitation. In order to make such decisions, it is important to know more about stock structure, distribution, abundance and dynamics. There is a need to ensure that we have the proper sampling/monitoring tools in place, and that they are available to the organisations and individuals undertaking the work.

3.8 Non-native fish species have been introduced to a number of Scottish water bodies in the past by various means. This is generally unacceptable if native fauna and biodiversity are to be protected. There are a number of provisions within the primary legislation which seek to address this issue, such as, those contained in the Import of Live Fish (Scotland) Act 1978, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007.

3.9 Notwithstanding the general provisions outlined above, targeted stocking of some fish to specific areas, under carefully controlled conditions, might be a valuable method to widen the angling resource base in Scotland. There may be opportunities to take advantage of new techniques in intensive breeding of fish and the production of infertile triploid fish, perhaps for a range of species of interest to anglers. Any such stocking should not conflict with the provisions of the Water Framework Directive and Habitats Directive.

3.10 Commercial stillwater fisheries, where fish of interest to anglers are regularly introduced from hatcheries and fish farms, are a vital component of the sector. They provide good angling opportunities in reasonable proximity to population centres, and in many respects they serve to take pressure off wild fish resources.

3.11 Proprietors of such establishments might wish to explore future options for further diversification in terms of the species they introduce for angling, and whilst such initiatives would be welcomed from an economic development perspective, they must be managed carefully in terms of fish health and environmental considerations.

3.12 It may be that without imposing an undue burden on commercial stillwater fisheries in terms of catchment based fish and fisheries management planning, some specific guidelines on 'boundary discipline' could be introduced. In large part these probably already operate, but we would consider formalising them in a consistent manner.

Priority for Action 1
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
SFCC already provides guidance on sampling techniques, and this PFA proposes to build upon that base of consistent practice. An expert group will critically review available literature and current activities in fishery management techniques that have been applied, and will publish a definitive guide on recommendations for a Code of Good Practice in all aspects of fish and fishery management. This will include:

• integrating different scales of management planning; and
• techniques for fishery improvement and enhancement in routine situations.

This extensive PFA will necessarily require to be delivered in manageable portions.
Objective: The final guidance document will be utilised by all the evolving fisheries management groups in Scotland. Progress will be monitored, and fed back to a periodic review of the guidance.

Priority for Action 2
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR COMMERCIAL STILLWATER FISHERIES
A Code of Good Practice will be developed for the operation of all stillwater fisheries in Scotland, and for other management in the catchment adjacent to such fisheries. There will be two main themes:

• biosecurity and other aspects of the interface between the fisheries and their adjacent catchment; and
• exploring the prospects for creating new fisheries, or modifying existing ones, whilst ensuring sustainability.

Aspects of this CoGP will inform PFA1, but its main focus will be on existing stillwater fisheries and catchments.
Objective: Operational management of commercial stillwater fisheries is by and large a matter for their owners, and should not be dictated by external groups. However, where there is a chance of interaction between the fishery and the rest of the catchment, there is a need to establish rules that safeguard all parties.

Priority for Action 3
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR SALMON STOCKING IN CATCHMENTS
A Code of Good Practice will be developed for the operation of all salmon hatcheries and stocking programmes within catchments. It will be based on the most recent scientific advice, and will be advised by ongoing developments arising from PFA 1.
Objective: Operational management of salmon hatching and stocking programmes within a catchment is a matter for the appropriate DSFB. Nevertheless there is increasing evidence about the most effective methodology to adopt, and DSFB managers would welcome concise guidance on evolving best practice.

Priority for Action 4
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLANNING ( FMP)
Effective catchment based fisheries management planning has been recognised by the Scottish Government and the private sector as the key to ensuring that all fish stocks and fisheries are managed and developed responsibly. This recognition has come in the form of two years of funding support by the Scottish Government for the creation of FMPs in all the major catchments in Scotland. Continued support for this process from the Scottish Government, DSFBs and Fisheries Trusts is essential.
The fisheries management planning process must build on existing best practice and be sufficiently flexible to accommodate the differing biological and other needs in various parts of the country. It should harmonise with other plans, e.g.SAC Management Plans.
In due course FMP development should be overseen and co-ordinated by the body suggested in PFA 8, but in the meantime the current FFF Steering Group is the most experienced lead body.
Objective: Effective fisheries management planning lies at the heart of achieving our shared vision, and this PFA will increase the level of understanding about best practice.

Priority for Action 5
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF EXPLOITATION OF SALMON STOCKS
There is already a partial understanding of the scale of exploitation of salmon stocks by different sectors at catchment level, and by geographic region around Scotland. However, there has to date been no assessment of whether these levels of exploitation are appropriate given the status of stocks and populations within these stocks. A project will examine this aspect of exploitation, taking into account environmental, economic, and social impacts.
Objective: The logic proposed for this PFA is in keeping with the principles of Environmental Impact Assessment. Such a structured and transparent assessment will assist managers in ensuring exploitation policies are sustainable over the long term.

Fish and Fisheries Management Bodies

3.13 The Steering Group has identified gaps in the existing system of management to which stakeholders need to respond if they are to realise the shared vision. In considering how to evolve and develop the current system to address these challenges we must take account of the following issues:

• existing DSFBs do not have a mandate to consider all-species fish and fisheries management, although Trusts and Foundations do. In some parts of the country, where the Boards and Trusts agree to work together, all-species management is either being practised, or starting to emerge on a pilot scale. We believe this activity should be supported and extended, since it provides valuable guidelines for the future, and at the same time allows an evolutionary approach to what already exists in Scotland. The Tweed Commission does have statutory responsibility for salmon and freshwater fish species;
• fish and fisheries management bodies are increasingly benefiting from public/private sector partnership initiatives. As fisheries management bodies evolve they will need to conduct the following tasks: ensure the needs of anglers and proprietors are adequately met and represented; accommodate and discharge the responsibilities that are a requirement of partnership projects; act as regulators; develop their role as custodians of the environment; and use the strengths and resolve the weaknesses that the voluntary system creates. Each of these functions will need to be transparently and efficiently discharged if the management body is to benefit from full stakeholder support;
• as management bodies evolve, they should, wherever possible, utilise the existing professional and voluntary resources that lie within the Board and Trust structures;
• national consistency will be essential, but the different regional challenges to fish and fisheries management around Scotland must be recognised and the flexibility to meet these on a regional basis must be incorporated into the new management bodies; and
• there are other regional 'management bodies' or 'stakeholder groups' operating around the country, such as sub-basin Area Advisory Groups (under our Water Framework Directive obligations) ¹³, and Area Management Groups (under the auspices of the Tri-partite Working Group). These groups also have an interest in fish and fisheries management, and their roles must synergise with fisheries management bodies.

Priority for Action 6
PILOT STUDIES FOR 'ALL SPECIES' FISHERY MANAGEMENT
We will encourage, assist and monitor the progress of two pilot studies of 'all species' fish and fisheries management within existing DSFB/Trust structures. It is hoped that the pilots will be undertaken in quite different regions: East Coast and West Coast. The Aberdeenshire Dee has been selected as the East Coast pilot. The communication strategy adopted by these pilot projects will be an important feature. The project will also pull in information from other groups such as clubs and associations that are undertaking similar 'all-species' fisheries management.
Objective: Successful pilot demonstrations that 'all-species' management can evolve from existing structures will provide confidence for all sectors and interests in fish and fisheries management. Furthermore, pilot studies will give an indication of the resource implications for future 'all-species' management, and will help to field-test techniques. Evidence of how to effectively communicate good practice to all parties involved in fisheries management will be sought.

Priority for Action 7
FISHERY DISTRICT AMALGAMATION & FISHERIES TRUST DEVELOPMENT
We will encourage the development of a strategic plan for the further amalgamation of Scotland's statutory salmon fishery districts and the development of fisheries trusts where there is clear benefit in doing so. The plan should take account of progress with the pilots ( PFA6). The plan should also take account of the experience of implementing the CoGP described referred to in PFA9, taking into account the views of all stakeholders. There are 3 main project lines:

• ongoing work on amalgamation where Boards exist;
• recommendations for approaches to be taken where Boards do not currently exist; and
• development of Fisheries Trusts in those area currently not covered by such organisations.

The plan will give due consideration to the geographical and administrative relationship between Trusts and Boards and, where Boards do not exist, to the role of Trusts in such areas.
Objective: Evolution of existing structures is the preferred route for future fish and fisheries management, and therefore possible amalgamation of districts is one facet of making progress. What evolves must be acceptable to all stakeholders within the sector, and therefore transparent and accountable governance are also key requirements.

Priority for Action 8
NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION
In parallel with activities in other PFAs, a plan for national co-ordination of all aspects of national fisheries management issues (not just structures) will be developed. This plan will consider the possible evolution of the existing Steering Group of the Freshwater Fisheries Forum. Roles and responsibilities that might be considered include: technical co-ordination of fisheries management plans; administrative scrutiny of Codes of Practice; fisheries development; regulatory oversight; funding mechanisms. As the process evolves, an opportunity to establish a 'National Centre for Angling and Freshwater Fisheries Management' will be considered.
Objective: Building on the strengths of the existing Forum initiative, a process will be developed to help co-ordinate and achieve consistency for fisheries and fish management issues at a national level.

Priority for Action 9
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION
The Guide to Best Practice that is currently being developed by RAFTS/ ASFB will be used, if suitable, as a foundation for a Code of Good Practice for the management and administration of some other fisheries management and angling bodies. (A further technical Code of Good Practice for the management of fish stocks and fisheries will also be developed under PFA 1). Consideration will be given as to how the development of these Codes will be managed, accredited and audited. It is recognised that this process would fall naturally under the responsibility of the national co-ordinating process referred to elsewhere in this document ( PFA 8).
Objective: To achieve a national, credible and widely supported Code of Practice for the management of fisheries, the management of fisheries management bodies and the management of angling bodies in Scotland and to develop appropriate auditing procedures to ensure standards are adhered-to and raised.

Priority for Action 10
INTERFACE WITH TRIPARTITE WORKING GROUP ACTIVITIES
Interactions between wild and farmed salmon are recognised in some situations to be a source of problems for wild fisheries, particularly in the area of escapes and fish health (with an emphasis on sea-lice). Apart from their ability to breed with native fish, the same applies to rainbow trout. Considerable progress has been made in recent years with the Tri-Partite Working Group - an initiative supported and funded by the Scottish Government, wild fisheries organisations, the fish farming industry/ CE/ SNH and others. We will develop and build on the existing TWG initiative to enhance our understanding of these problems and to ensure that wild / farmed fish interactions are reduced to an absolute minimum and that the industry achieves its stated goal of environmental sustainability.
Objective: To develop and build on the existing TWG initiative to enhance our understanding of these problems and to ensure that wild / farmed fish interactions are reduced to an absolute minimum and that the industry achieves its stated goal of environmental sustainability.

Legislative Requirements

3.14 There will be a requirement to consider subordinate legislation arising from the provisions within the Aquaculture & Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007. An example would be the details of implementation of Section 35 movement controls for freshwater fish.

3.15 Scotland must consider provisions arising from the implementation of European legislation, for example the Fish Health Directive 2006/88 ¹⁴. Specifically it will be important to consider: health surveillance; registration of commercially stocked fisheries; authorisation of hatcheries. Consideration also needs to be given to the provisions of the Water Framework Directive to ensure that stocking does not result in deterioration of status of waters.

3.16 The evolution towards new freshwater fish and fisheries management structures in Scotland will in due course require some fundamental changes in primary legislation, for example: powers and duties; property; employment; revocations; and financial obligations. The introduction of a new Freshwater Fisheries Bill will be necessary in due course.

Priority for Action 11
FRESHWATER FISHERIES BILL
A new Bill will be required to ensure that appropriate legislative machinery is made available to implement the recommendations that will emerge from several of the work streams identified in this strategic framework.
Objective: Develop clear and detailed recommendations for proposed inclusions in a future fisheries Bill.

Organisational Development

3.17 Scotland has a deserved reputation as an excellent place for many types of fishing. The management, promotion and use of our fish and fisheries resources has an increasingly important contribution to make in an international forum with other major freshwater fishing nations. Co-operation and sharing of information at this international level, between countries with similar challenges and opportunities, will be increasingly important. Scotland should play a lead role in this.

Priority for Action 12
FORGING INTERNATIONAL LINKS
Industry groups and appropriate government agencies will work together to identify and forge links with people involved in fisheries management at tourism/development, educational, research and regulatory levels in all the key North Atlantic and European freshwater fisheries nations.
Objective: Closer international collaboration will improve marketing opportunities and contribute to measured and appropriate regulatory developments in a European context.

Communication

3.18 The Scottish Government statistical bulletin reports salmon and sea-trout catches each year for the previous year ¹⁵. The time-series is over 50 years in length which is one of the longest formal national catch records for migratory salmonids in existence. We will explore options for enhancing the presentation of the bulletin, as an aid to improving the understanding and knowledge of the public in trends and current status of stocks.

3.19 The Steering Group recognises the good work being undertaken by initiatives such as the Scottish National Angling Programme ( SNAP) ¹⁶ and various regional projects. The framework envisages that one responsibility of future area and national management structures will be to identify how they might support or assist in the further development of similar activities, and to identify their own specific targets as part of their management development plan.

3.20 There should be, in the long term, a consideration of the value of developing a 'national angling and freshwater fisheries management centre', as a resource that might foster public understanding of the sector, and also serve as an educational and promotional tool. A more immediate option for enhancing access to information about angling and freshwater fisheries management is to consider a single 'web portal', linking into all other existing and new information sources.

3.21 Training and general education initiatives are discussed elsewhere in this framework, but there are a number of specific but limited activities around Scotland that interact with the educational systems in schools. 'Salmon in the classroom' ¹⁷ is one good example. The limited and regional nature of this sort of educational activity could be extended to include more comprehensive geographical coverage.

Priority for Action 13
WEB PORTAL FOR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND ANGLING
We will explore the prospects for establishing and managing a single web portal for all aspects of the sector in Scotland. The concept is to develop a 'virtual' fisheries management and angling centre, which provides access to information at all levels: biologists; anglers; businesses; and the general public. We anticipate that it will involve active links to the existing web-based sources of information about fisheries management and angling opportunities, e.g.RAFTS, ASFB, SFCA, ASSF, SANA, S&TA, IFM, FRS, SFCC, etc. VisitScotland and the Enterprise Agencies should also be involved in this activity.
Objective: To create a virtual one-stop-shop for the sector in Scotland, linking into all the existing websites of the different parts of the sector. It is anticipated that this portal would contain information of interest to the general public.

Priority for Action 14
REVIEW OF THE STATISTICAL BULLETIN
A review of the Statistical Bulletin will be undertaken, and recommendations reported.
Objective: There are two key objectives:

• the possibility that the Bulletin can be made more informative in terms of reporting of salmonid data; and
• inclusion of datasets on all species of angling/management interest in Scotland.

Priority for Action 15
EDUCATION
It is noted that initiatives involving "Fish in the Classroom" are already making very valuable contributions to aspects of existing school curricula.
A working group will be established to investigate the possible expansion of such schemes throughout Scotland. Issues such as funding, training of staff etc. will require investigation and care will be taken not to damage the excellent projects that are already in existence.
Objective: We would want such an in-class programme available for, and taken up by, every school in Scotland.

Priority for Action 16
JUNIOR COACHING
The Joint Angling Development Bodies of Scotland ( JADBOS), chaired by SNAP , will monitor, support and publicise all non-classroom activities that foster wider uptake of angling. Projects currently organised by the Governing Bodies will be encouraged and supported. JADBOS will consider and report on how the development impetus obtained as a result of SNAP can be maintained in the longer term.
Objective: We would want to see that clubs maintain the development impetus originating from projects such as SNAP.

Marketing

3.22 Scotland offers an exceptional range of fishing opportunity to suit all types of angler and all budgets. Subject to the implementation of practical management policies, we believe that there is a considerable opportunity to develop sustainable angling tourism in Scotland in regional, national and international markets.

Priority for Action 17
MARKET RESEARCH
Commission a market research study to examine the range of possible target markets for sustainable angling tourism, and seek recommendations for a national promotional strategy. It will also explore the current market and ways in which the potential from that can be realised - the needs, wants and expectations of existing and future markets will also be an important part of such a study.

Objective: Provide a detailed evidence-base and develop a strategy for a national market promotion effort.

Priority for Action 18
PROMOTION OF SCOTTISH ANGLING
Using the market study and its strategy plan ( PFA 17), FFFSG will engage with the industry and VisitScotland in order to resource a concerted promotional activity. This would include: raising the profile of sustainable angling and better integrating it with other Scottish tourist-related sectors; establishing active alliances with related sectors in the UK and further afield; taking advantage of specific promotional activities outside Scotland.
Objective: To deliver a co-ordinated effort that will aim to increase the number of angler days in Scotland, both from Scottish and non-Scottish sources.

Training

3.23 The Fisheries Management sector was historically poor at recognising the need for training. This has changed in recent years with a number of organisations involved in developing industry-specific training tailored to the requirements of employers and employees. Appendix 5 provides further information concerning all the current activities.

3.24 Training is fundamental to the successful evolution of Scottish freshwater fish and fisheries management, since it will provide a sufficient body of competent people to work together towards the realisation of our shared vision. These training imperatives, to be certificated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority ¹⁸ where possible, cut across several facets of the activities within the sector, including:

• fisheries management training at SVQ Levels 2 & 3, available as distance learning or as partial residential courses at colleges such as Barony ¹⁹ and Inverness;
• bailiff training to SVQ standards, developed by the Institute of Fisheries Management and ASFB;
• fisheries proprietors and owners, for whom some additional and enhanced awareness of fisheries management issues might prove helpful;
• business, personnel and general management training, for those employed professionally within the evolving freshwater fisheries management structures;
• gillies and guides, who are in many ways the 'shop window' for fishing in Scotland;
• instructors and coaches, who ensure that rewarding and fulfilling technical proficiency is developed amongst those participating in the recreation and sport of angling;
• other service providers associated with the sector, such as hoteliers and restaurateurs, whose potential to enhance the Scottish angling experience should not be underestimated; and
• volunteers, whose targeted and well-informed and managed efforts should add to the success of future freshwater fish and fisheries management in Scotland.

Priority for Action 19
TRAINING CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
A subgroup of the Forum's Steering Group will be permanently established to oversee, advise on and promote all aspects of relevant training in Scotland. Its efforts will support and be facilitated by the work of a National Training Co-ordinator. The subgroup will seek to add value and expertise to existing programmes and projects, and will specifically identify where training gaps and weaknesses currently exist. It will identify solutions to any training gaps, and seek to have those taken up by appropriate training providers. Its remit will be as wide as required, in order to meet the objectives set out in this Strategic Framework. It will report formally to the Steering Group at plenary sessions, and will produce an Annual Report of progress with training initiatives in Scotland.
Objective: To ensure that all aspects of Scotland's training needs for the sector are being considered and reported in one single, publicly accessible place. The ultimate objective is to ensure that affordable and relevant training is available to everyone, across all the skill areas relevant to the sector, and to demonstrate year on year progress in the levels of trained staff in Scotland.

Equality of Access

3.25 Freshwater fisheries can provide an easily accessible, safe and enjoyable experience for older people, women, young people, and the mentally and physically disabled. However these user groups may require specific facilities to ensure this and information on how to make freshwater fisheries more accessible to such groups will need to be promoted.

Priority for Action 20
DISABLED ANGLING TASK FORCE
We will examine opportunities to provide support to the activities of the Scottish Disability Sport's angling co-ordination programme, and that of Scottish Disabled Flyfishers. We will specifically aim to:

• build on the existing web-based information available for disabled anglers ensuring that it covers all sectors;
• encourage, through discussions with local authorities, businesses and clubs, the development of further investment in equipment and infrastructure to provide increased access for disabled anglers; and
• provide information packs on how to improve disabled angling access.

Objective: Increase the opportunities for angling access for the disabled in Scotland.

Priority for Action 21
BROADEN SOCIAL INCLUSION IN ANGLING
Whilst disabled angling is a specific area requiring investment in fixed assets and equipment, there is an additional opportunity to support activities that encourage increased angling by many different groups of society. We propose to set up a working group to consider and report on opportunities, and to propose specific actions for public bodies, proprietors, clubs and businesses. The working group will liaise with existing activities in this area, such as SNAP, Angling for Youth Development ( AFYD) and the Scottish Ladies Committee of SANA.
Objective: To develop an action plan for methods to broaden the appeal of angling across all sectors of Scottish society.

Legal Issues Concerning Access

3.26 Protection Orders ( see Appendix 4.7) are important in terms of providing a mechanism to help promote increased access to angling and seek to resolve conflicts between different angling opportunities. They have not been created for all freshwater systems in Scotland, and there is no legal obligation for individual proprietors to become part of a local Order where one does exist. There is some concern that Protection Orders have not increased angling access in all cases.

3.27 It is possible that as new fisheries management structures evolve, and as new legislation is considered, individual protection orders might also be transformed into some other mechanism. Indeed, the development of local fisheries management plans may remove the need for protection orders completely, as access to fishing and protection of private rights will have to be considered in the planning. However, during the transition to any new regime, it is important to continue to oversee the effectiveness of the protection order system, and to take guidance for the future from our appraisal of the existing mechanism.

Priority for Action 22
ACCESS AND PROTECTION
Independent informative research on access and protection legislation will be undertaken, as will promotion of evidence of good opportunity and availability. The study should consider the implications for all areas of Scotland, not just those with existing protection orders. This research will provide additional evidence and make recommendations to inform policy makers, when considering any new legislation in the future.
Objective: As existing fisheries management structures evolve according to the needs articulated in this Strategic Framework, guidance on legal protection mechanisms and on encouraging access to fishing will be important considerations. This PFA will form part of the evidence base for future decision-making.

Monitoring and Evaluation

3.28 It is important to evaluate how far this strategy's aims and objectives are being achieved on an ongoing basis, and this will be done by examining each priority for action and gathering the necessary evidence to see what has been achieved.

3.29 In the future, the economic study entitled The economic impact of game and coarse angling in Scotlandmay be refreshed. If the aims and objectives in this strategy are met then it would be expected that the industry would continue to play an important role in creating output and jobs in the economy. However, the first priority will be to evaluate if the strategy is achieving its aims.

3.30 It is also believed that there may be an opportunity to gain more frequent indicators of angler numbers from databases that are currently compiled and maintained by other agencies.

Priority for Action 23
ANNUAL REPORTING ON PROGRESS WITH THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
We will consider how objective measures of our progress towards the shared vision can be collated and publicised. Two approaches will be taken:

• an annual report will be published describing the progress with the Priorities for Action that have been initiated; and
• FFFSG will consider how frequently, and to what degree of detail, it might be necessary to refresh any studies on the economic value of the sector.

Objective: To evaluate annually in a cost-effective way whether our efforts are encouraging development towards our overarching vision.

Fish and Fisheries Management Funding

3.31 Currently most freshwater fisheries management expenditure results from money raised through DSFBs which is generated by the salmon economy. Most of this funding (approximately £3.5m per annum) is spent on work that is increasingly focused on river and habitat management. This will often be of benefit to other fish species and the wider environment but the work of the Boards is inevitably and constitutionally salmon focused. Boards also give considerable financial support to Fisheries Trusts which have all-species, environmental and general fisheries management objectives but as charities RAFTS and the Fisheries Trusts raise significant extra resources from donations, charitable and grant making sources. These sources of funding are particularly critical to those areas of Scotland, and Fisheries Trusts, which do not have DSFBs to support them. The DSFB funding for salmon related management must be protected and should not be required to cross-subsidise management of other species any more than it is currently doing. Therefore if we are to manage other fisheries and fish stocks and develop the sort of ideas being generated, in this strategy, it will be essential to develop our thinking about how this might be funded.

Priority for Action 24
ASSESSING RESOURCE NEEDS
An expert group will monitor the financial consequences of the evidence emerging from other PFAs being undertaken as part of this Strategic Framework. It will collate this evidence base, and project the likely resource requirements for future all-species fisheries management across the different regions in Scotland. It will also identify and clearly enumerate the benefits to be gained by the implementation of new techniques and management systems.
Objective: To ascertain what, if any, the additional cost of all-species regional management of freshwater fisheries will be. This in turn will clearly identify the benefits, to all parts of the sector, of implementing such evolutionary change.

Priority for Action 25
ASSESSING EXISTING RESOURCES
An expert group will conduct a survey of the existing manpower and financial resources being dedicated to freshwater fisheries management and fishing development. This work will include all sectors, including DSFBs, Trusts and Foundations, and Clubs and Associations. It will also consider the work areas in which resource is currently being applied.
Objective: It is essential that we understand where existing resource is committed, so that we can decide how to modify that commitment to meet the needs of our strategic vision, and particularly to balance this against the resource requirements identified in PFA 24.

Priority for Action 26
FUNDING SOURCES
An expert group will consider how additional funding, if required, might be raised. All possible solutions should be explored. Once the benefits of additional commitment to fisheries management have been more widely appreciated, solutions for generating additional funding locally might be found, including voluntary angler contributions.
Objective: If additional funding is required to achieve our shared vision for the sector, a means to raise that funding must be agreed before steps such as introduction of new legislation are embarked upon.

Research

3.32 Whilst some elements of the Priority for Action topics discussed above necessitate study that could be described as research, we have chosen to identify more conventional 'research' topics under their own heading within the framework. Freshwater fish and fisheries are biological systems, and the health of fish populations and high status of our freshwaters are of overriding importance to Scotland. If we cannot maintain the generally high standards of freshwater ecosystems currently found within Scotland, then our vision for sustainably managed fisheries will be threatened. Research should take place across the full spectrum relating to our need to ensure sustainability, i.e. it should include social, economic and environmental issues.

3.33 Some of the key concerns identified by the Steering Group whilst developing this framework include:

• for salmon and sea trout, there is a widespread view that what happens to the fish during their stay in the marine environment is not always scientifically understood. Furthermore, changes in the marine environment in recent years may be having an adverse effect on diadromous fish species. If this is the case, then there are implications for the sustainability of both netting and angling. Of Scotland's 26 native fish species which occur in fresh water, 17 rely on the marine environment for a significant part of their lives or occur there as subspecies/races. Especially important are transitional waters (estuaries and brackish waters) through which many fish have to pass to gain access to fresh water;
• climate change has the potential to affect freshwater fish and fisheries in a number of ways, ranging from changes in availability and/or seasonality of prey organisms to changes in the way that different species of fish are likely to thrive in bodies of water in Scotland and in the marine environment. Altering climate change is outwith the scope of this framework, but the threats or opportunities that might arise from it need to be well understood by fisheries biologists and managers;
• predation on fish, particularly by some species of birds and both grey and common seals, is a major concern for many anglers and netsmen in Scotland. The assertion is that birds such as cormorants and sawbill ducks, protected under the provisions of the Birds Directive, have increased in number significantly over recent years, and are responsible for preying on key fish species to the level that fish populations have suffered significantly. This is a complex area, and whilst there is a significant literature base available, it does not seem sufficiently accessible to prevent passionate and often public debate. The legal obligations of the Competent Authority are clear, and any major changes in the current licensing regime for predator control in Scotland are unlikely to take place without a Europe-wide reassessment of the situation; and
• the recreation of angling is excluded from all legislative provisions concerning general animal welfare, not just nationally but also internationally.

3.34 A consideration of relevant research topics is included in Appendix 3.

Priority for Action 27
RESEARCH PRIORITISATION PANEL
A permanent subgroup of the Steering Group, with additional co-opted experts, will advise on research needs within the sector. It will undertake a formal research prioritisation exercise on an annual basis, seeking input from the wider representative groups and then honing these down to key priorities. This work should co-ordinate with the FRS Research Programme and others operating in the freshwater environment ( SEPA/ SNH). It will be published, and widely publicised within the research community. It will also be promoted to a wide range of funding bodies, such as The Scottish Government, Research Councils, charitable foundations and industry. Appendix 3 shows current research priorities within the sector.
Objective: It is important for everyone involved in the sector in Scotland to have complete confidence in research that is being undertaken for the benefit of the sector. Research prioritisation coming from a wide-interest expert panel, rather than from research providers alone, is the modern and transparent way to achieve such confidence.

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