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The two Haaf netters, who are making the legal challenge in the high court, are still eagerly waiting to find out if the case goes forward for a full judicial review. They hope to here in the near future and the Association intends to have a full members meeting to here from them as soon as we have had word from the courts.

The committee has been busy with the media who have been very supportive of our plight. We had a visit from Olivia Edwards of the Royal Geographical Society in June and she will publish an article in the English “Geographical” magazine in the September issue. We believe it will be available on the newstands in August. She took 150 photographs but she is unlikely to make me look good. There were very few fishermen out that day because of work and the new restrictions but you may recognise some faces.

Fishing has been very slow because of all the rain in June and July. There were some modest catches of trout in June but they have gone and we are still waiting to see any numbers of grilse. It has been very difficult fitting tides in around working hours and catches are probably down significantly on recent years. The rod fishermen in the rivers have been catching some salmon and we wish them well!

It has been pleasing to see that four young lads have started to fish on the back of older netsmen’s tickets. The lads aged from 12-14 are from Port Carlisle and Glasson area. One lad has even caught a small salmon. I hope he is “hooked “ as these “New Starters” are the future of our fishery.

I would like to thank all of our members who have written to the Cumberland News, in particular, who have publicised our plight locally. We will continue to make people aware that this fishery should be preserved for future generations. It belongs to everyone and the salmon we lucky enough to catch do not belong to a greedy minority of rod businesses up the Eden valley.

Mark Graham
Secretary
Solway Haaf Netters Association