A Framework Agreement between salmon farming and wild fisheries interests sets out the general principles whereby the Area Management Groups can establish Area Management Agreements (AMA's). The primary aim of the AMA's is to develop practical measures to facilitate the promotion and maintenance of healthy wild salmonid fish and farmed salmon stocks at local levels. There are currently 15 AMA's. These are:
- Loch Laxford
- Loch Eriboll
- West Loch Tarbert
- East Lewis/Harris
- Loch Torridon
- Loch Carron/Kishorn
- Loch Fyne
- Linnhe/Lorn/Etive/ Sound of Mull/Sunart
- Loch Nevis
- Loch Ewe
- Kyles of Bute
- Lochs Duich/Alsh
- West Mull
- Lower Lorne
- Loch Roag
The establishment of an AMA is a purely voluntary process and a considerable amount of work and commitment has been put into this - and to the whole TWG process - by both the wild fisheries interests and the fish farming industry. The TWG is in agreement that wherever possible, the management of both wild and farmed fish stocks should be controlled at the local level. There is a need for a strategic approach to the control and management of fish farming activities within an agreed management area. This may necessitate increased production in less sensitive sites in order to achieve synchronised production cycles, or even relocation to less sensitive sites.