Anglers hail netting cuts

The majority of licences were surrendered

Anglers in the Borders are hailing a move to cut drift net salmon fishing off the Northumberland coast as the most significant development in 40 years.

Fishing organisation The Tweed Foundation has bought out 52 of the 68 licences in the area for £3.2m, with the help of UK Government funding.

The licences were officially brought to an end from 1 June.

Drift net fishing with monofilament nets off Northumberland sees summer catches of about 35,000 fish.

Nick Yonge, director of The Tweed Foundation, believes the move to dramatically scale back the controversial practice is a major step towards securing the river's future.

'Economic boost'

"It's terrifically important for the local economy, we've got over 500 people who make their living out of the fishery on the Tweed," said Mr Yonge.

"It's hugely important in terms of the rural economy, worth £13m, so this will inevitably boost that and be very good for everybody living in the region."

In the last 40 years Scotland's catch of Atlantic salmon has declined steeply.

At the moment anglers put back about half of what they catch in order to preserve stocks, but it is hoped that river managers will now have more control over what happens to the salmon.