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CONTENTS
THE RIVER TWEED COMMISSION
The River Tweed Commission (formerly the River Tweed Commissioners charged under the Tweed Fisheries Acts of 1857, 1859 and 1969) is charged under the The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006 with the general preservation and increase of Salmon, Sea Trout, Trout and other freshwater fish in the River Tweed and its tributaries, and in particular with the regulation of fisheries, the removal of nuisances and obstructions and the prevention of illegal fishing. The area of jurisdiction extends five miles out to sea and includes the coastline between Cockburnspath and Holy Island. Powers are granted to the Commission by The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006 to help fulfil these duties.
The R.T.C. is the only "Fishery Board" charged with the general preservation and increase of trout and other freshwater fish, as well as Salmon and Sea Trout. The The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006 extends the R.T.C.'s general responsibilities to include these species and, as a consequence, extends the representation on the controlling Commission to include persons representing the interests of freshwater fishing associations and clubs and of other persons concerned with the use of the waters of the River Tweed.
The Commission is the body corporate and consists of 81 Commissioners. 38 of these are elected each year by the Fishery Proprietors, as proprietary Commissioners, and 43 are appointed as representative Commissioners by the local authorities (Scottish Borders Council and Berwick Upon Tweed Borough Council) of which 23 are from local angling clubs and 20 from independent interests. The Commission elects a Chief Commissioner and Deputy each year at its annual general meeting. It also appoints a Treasurer who acts as scrutineer of its finances. The Commission levies an annual assessment on the Owners of all Fisheries, which is used to employ Water Bailiffs, provide the necessary back-up equipment and administration, and task the Tweed Foundation to undertake such work as it deems important from time to time. The Commission meets four times a year, in March, June, September and December.
Tweed Committee - Although The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006 does not make provision for a Committee, the Chief Commissioner is assisted and advised by a Committee drawn from members of Council which is broadly intended to represent different interest in the River. The current Committee’s role and structure have been established by common agreement and practice, for operational convenience. The membership of the Committee - a maximum of 12 and a minimum of 8 - is intended to be representative of (as far as possible):- Lower, Middle & Upper Tweed and main tributaries fisheries; Netting interests; Angling Associations; Non-proprietary Commissioners and The Tweed Foundation. The Committee meets around four times a year between Council meetings.
The Commission has adopted the Seven Principles of Public Life set by The Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is an independent public body and which advises government on ethical standards across the whole of public life in the UK, has set them out for the benefit of all who serve the public in any way.
In practice, the River Tweed Commission retains responsibilities for the policing and administration of the River and delegates the scientific aspects of stock management to The Tweed Foundation through The Tweed Fisheries Management Plan which it regularly reviews and has approved.
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THE TWEED FOUNDATION
The Tweed Foundation is a Charitable Trust which was set up by the, former River Tweed Commissioners in 1983 to promote the development of Salmon and Trout stocks in the Tweed River System.
The Foundation is regarded as being at the forefront in bringing a more professional, scientific approach to salmonid management. It is engaged in an extensive programme of biological research, stock monitoring and habitat enhancement with the aim of protecting Tweed's valuable fish stocks and maximising the river's natural productivity.
The Foundation's affairs are regulated by a board of Trustees. The River Tweed Commission's Chairman and Treasurer are also automatically Chairman and Treasurer of the Foundation. Funding of the Tweed Foundation's activities has comes from a variety of sources: contributions from the R.T.C., membership, donations (from private individuals and other charities, etc.) and through various grants - most notably from the European Union's Objective 5(b) programme (from 1993-1999), Scottish Natural Heritage and most recently the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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