About The Tweed Foundation

The Tweed Foundation is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee set up by the River Tweed Commission (RTC) to promote the understanding and development of fish stocks in the Tweed River system.

Established in 1983, the Foundation has been at the forefront of a professional, objective, scientific approach to salmonid management. It is engaged in an extensive programme of biological research, monitoring and habitat enhancement to understand and protect Tweed’s valuable fish stocks and to maximise the river’s natural productivity.

The Foundation’s remit not only covers that of the old RTC Experimental Committee of the 1860’s but also has the broader job of advising the RTC on fisheries management matters. 

a) The Foundation survey fish populations, to discover what species use which areas to breed. Survey fish habitat quantity and quality.

b) Monitors juvenile populations of Salmon and Trout to find out if there are changes in their numbers.

c) Monitor adult populations with fish counters and traps.

d) Analyses catch records to understand trends and find the environmental or other causes for these.

e) Research the stock structure of salmon and trout to find age and growth patterns and to identify any local sub-stocks within the system. 

The Foundation investigates many other facets of fish biology and ecology which can be found in the Management Plan for the Foundation. The RTC has also devolved the “increase” part of its remit to the Foundation, which essentially means improving the quantity (through the removal of obstacles) and quality of fish habitats in the catchment.