Crown Estates Scotland Pilot Project
Crown Estate Scotland and Forth District Salmon Fishery Board (Forth DSFB) have signed an agreement which will see Forth DSFB take on extra responsibility over fishing rights across a large area of eastern Scotland.
The agreement to delegate management of Scottish Crown Estate assets is the first of a number expected to be put in place over the coming months.
Crown Estate Scotland launched the Local Pilots Management Scheme in 2018 to create opportunities for communities to get more involved in managing parts of the Scottish Crown Estate. It is part of a wider step-change in how the Estate is managed, ensuring communities and local authorities have more say and influence.
Some of the key aspects of the agreement announced today include:
- Crown Estate Scotland will provide funding to support a project officer employed by Forth DSFB who will deliver the project
- Forth DSFB will manage invoicing of rent for leased fishing rights and broker new fishing leases within the district
- Forth DSFB will promote fishing / angling relevant to the Scottish Crown Estate including for the wider associated benefits. .
The project will also include working with other groups to open up suitable dormant or underutilised fishing areas to allow for active management and a greater variety of fishing opportunities. This is expected to create a greater dynamism for the activity of fishing in the area and provide more options for local people and visitors alike.
Crown Estate Scotland: “This new agreement marks an important step in us working with local communities to help them take greater control of local assets. We have worked very closely with Forth DSFB to ensure that an agreement has been put in place which will provide value and benefits to the communities it serves. We hope that this will provide a blueprint for how partnerships like this could potentially work in the future.”
John McKenzie, Convener of the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board said
“Angling on our rivers is an essential part of many people’s lives which gets people connected with nature and outdoors, enjoying the peace of the river and developing new skills. We, at the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board, are keen to support all salmon fishing owners and anglers ensuring there is good public access. Working with Crown Estates Scotland on this exciting project will help us achieve this.
I am also looking forward to welcoming a new member of the team at a time when other opportunities are challenging. Development of the sustainable future of the Forth fishery is at the heart of what we do.”
About Crown Estate Scotland
Crown Estate Scotland is a public corporation that manages land and property on behalf of Scottish Ministers. We invest in property, natural resources and people to generate lasting value for Scotland. This includes ensuring families, businesses and communities can live, work and thrive on the assets. All revenue profit is paid to Scottish Government for public spending.
Crown Estate Scotland manages:
- 37,000 hectares of rural land with agricultural tenancies, residential and commercial properties and forestry on four rural estates (Glenlivet, Fochabers, Applegirth and Whitehill)
- Rights to fish wild salmon and sea trout in in river and coastal areas
- Rights to naturally-occurring gold and silver across most of Scotland
- Just under half the foreshore around Scotland including 5,800 moorings and some ports and harbours
- Leasing of virtually all seabed out to 12 nautical miles covering some 750 fish farming sites and agreements with cables & pipeline operators
- The rights to offshore renewable energy and gas and carbon dioxide storage out to 200 nautical miles
- Retail and office units at 39-41 George Street Edinburgh
If you are an existing tenant of Crown Estate Scotland fishing within the Forth or would like to find out more about the pilot project please contact us by emailing ces@forthdsfb.org
More information on the project will be published here as it progresses and all existing tenants will be contacted by Crown Estate Scotland and the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board.
