EAST LOTHIAN ANGLING ASSOCIATION

RIVER TYNE FIVE YEAR ACTION PLAN 2005-2010 (2008 update)

In the five year period to 2010, the East Lothian Angling Association aims to:

• Develop the potential of the River Tyne as a high quality fishery
• Maintain and improve the river and bankside habitat to encourage ecological diversity and a thriving population of wild trout
• Secure responsible long-term access to angling in East Lothian for the local community and visitors

To achieve our objectives we will seek to work in partnership with others with an interest in the River Tyne, including the riparian owners and farmers, East Lothian Council, Haddington and Dunpender Community Councils, the Tyne Trust, the Forth Salmon Fisheries Board, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Wild Trout Trust and the local community.

The Association has identified that work needs to be carried out under three main headings:

• Securing long-term access
• Improving our information about what is happening in the river
• Maintaining and improving habitat

The Association recognises that much of this work will be ongoing and that it is unlikely to be completed within the life of this plan.

Securing long term access

Negotiate long term leases

Explore potential for purchase of fishing rights in selected areas

Develop relations with riparian owners

Seek support for the Action Plan from others with an interest in the Tyne

Education to encourage good practices and responsible behaviour by anglers

Improving information

Produce a detailed river map

Maintain work records

Carry out regular river surveys

Monitor spawning burns

Encourage and develop accurate and useful catch returns

Maintaining and improving habitat

Improve fish passes

Improve in-stream cover for fish by placing rocks

Protect riverbanks from erosion by fencing

Protect river from agricultural chemical spray by the use of buffer zones

Deal with over-shading by bankside tree thinning

Develop stocking policy

Identify funding sources for habitat improvement work

Improve anti-poaching measures

Targets for 2009

By the end of 2009, the ELAA aims to have:

• Negotiated further long term leases where possible.
• Made contact with riparian owners and invited them to a presentation on the ELAA action plan for the Tyne.
• Completed a comprehensive survey of 30 sites on the main river and spawning burns
• Collected and collated data to populate the electronic map of the river.
• Put in place the proposed improvements to Knowes Weir (diagonal baffles to create a stream of water down the face of the weir).
• Investigated potential external funding for remedial work on other Tyne weirs.
• Further improved fish cover at Westfield and Nisbet by placing rocks in-stream.
• Review and make decisions on stocking policy before the start of the 2009 season.
• Improve the level and consistency of the patrolling on the Tyne to reduce poaching and ensure compliance with permit rules.
• Considered whether to make an offer for any fishing rights on the Tyne which are put up for sale.
• Review ELAA costs and income in the light of possible changes to stocking policy, and expenditure on bailiff support to see whether permit price policy needs to be changed, in time for start of 2010 season..

In addition to the new targets listed above, the Association will continue to

• Maintain permit prices at the current level for 2009
• Print and distribute permits