BORDERS MSP Rachael Hamilton said she was delighted to attend the opening of this year’s Tweed Salmon fishing season at an event hosted by the River Tweed Commission at Ednam House on Wednesday morning.
Ms Hamilton was joined at Ednam House by fellow politician Mairi Gougeon, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, who addressed the commission and officially opened the river.
READ MORE: Watch Jack Lowden in the trailer for The Gold
Speaking at the event the Cabinet Secretary announced plans to implement a wild salmon strategy to help improve the number of wild salmon in Scotland’s rivers.
Higher temperatures, among other factors, have contributed to record low salmon stocks in the River Tweed in recent years, however Ms Hamilton – who is the Scottish Parliament’s Riparian Woodland Champion – is hopeful that recent interventions from stakeholders to restore woodland around the River Tweed can help to return salmon stocks to healthier levels in the coming years.
She warned that this work must continue at pace to halt the decline of salmon in the Tweed, and that the Scottish Government must step up their support for these projects and encourage further action to be taken on this issue.
READ MORE:Aldi provide surplus food bags at less than a third of the price
Salmon fishing in the river Tweed contributes around £24 million per year to the local economy in the Borders, with the opening of the fishing season representing the beginning of an influx of anglers to the region to fish the famous waters.
Ms Hamilton said: “I was delighted to attend the opening of the fishing season in the Tweed this year. This is such an important part of our local culture here in the Borders. Salmon fishing also makes a significant contribution to our local economy, creating jobs and attracting tourists from around the world.
“Last month, I was pleased to host an event in Parliament which highlighted the importance of salmon to Scotland’s biodiversity, as well as the crucial role that riparian woodland plays in supporting this remarkable species.
“There is no doubt that without a flourishing fishing industry in the Borders, the work of organisations such as the Tweed Commission and Tweed Forum could not be sustained.
READ MORE: Gregor Townsend names team for Six Nations opener at Twickenham
“I was pleased to hear of plans afoot to implement a Wild Salmon Strategy from the Cabinet Secretary during today’s ceremony. However, I am determined to ensure this approach does not amount to yet another empty promise from this SNP Government. Work to recover our salmon stocks must now accelerate in order to secure their future in our rivers.
“As the Scottish Parliament’s Riparian Woodland Champion, I am absolutely committed to supporting plans to help restore our river woods and support the recovery of salmon stocks in our rivers.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here