River Clyde Fisheries Management Trust Ltd.
 

    1985 - 2005  

At the time the Trust was formed in 1985, a number of local angling clubs and associations were present on the river, providing fishings for non-migratory species, mainly trout and grayling. Such maintenance and husbandry as the rivers had enjoyed over the previous century had arisen almost entirely from the efforts of these bodies.

The matter of the ownership of the salmon fishings in the Clyde catchment above the Leven had been purely academic for several for several generations, but was becoming significant once more. The legal position was, and remains, simply that all salmon fishings are the property of the Crown unless title is explicitly held by another party. The Crown Estates Commissioners therefore notified their intention to formally resume title to the entire catchment. Landowners and other parties were given a specified period within which to demonstrate and prove title to any areas to which they might have a claim. A small number did so, but the Crown is by far the largest proprietor across the system.

The Crown then leased its fishings back to the local angling clubs and associations. All leaseholders were required to subscribe to the RCFMT, which initially administered the leases on behalf of the Crown Estates. More recently, leases have been granted directly to the clubs, and a proportion of the resulting income has been remitted directly to the RCFMT in the form of a grant.

In general terms, it would be fair to say that the Clyde's reputation for providing affordable fishing to the 'working man' has, so far, survived its re-colonization by migratory species.

In the absence of any statutory power to manage the fishery corporately, however, it soon became clear that many of the more grandiose aspirations listed as objectives in the original Memorandum of Association were unrealistic in practice. Notwithstanding this, and due in no small measure to the tireless efforts of the long-term Secretary, James McAloon, the RCFMT has carried out much good work over the years, and is a well-established organisation enjoying widespread recognition both within the Clyde catchment and the Scottish angling community as a whole.

The formation in 2001 of the Clyde River Foundation, an independently-funded body with a remit focusing on scientific research and habitat improvement, has also impacted on the range of activity of the Trust. A Memorandum of Understanding exists between RCFMT and CRF intended to facilitate working in partnership in those areas where objectives overlap.

13^thJanuary 2004