Solway Shellfish Management Association

The Solway Shellfish Management Association (SSMA) was formed in order to apply for, and manage, a Regulating Order for the maintenance and regulation of a shellfish fishery on the Scottish Solway Firth. The Company (Company Number 211971) was registered with the Registrar of Companies for Scotland at Companies House, Edinburgh, on 13th October 2000, under the Companies Acts 1985 to 1989. The Company is limited by guarantee and not having share capital.

The Company has a Board of Directors appointed by and from the founder members and unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution the number of Directors will not exceed 8. None of the income and the property of the Company will profit the members of the Company and none of the Company members will be paid salary or fees from the Company.

The objectives for which the Company was established are:

• To protect, preserve and improve the Shellfishery of the Scottish Solway Coast.
• To apply and implement the powers granted by Regulating Orders under the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967 (and subsequent amendments) or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force, with the purpose of maintaining, regulating and improving the fishery around the Scottish Solway Coast for the shellfish species defined in the Regulating Order within the area covered by the Regulating Order.
• To manage a sustainable Shellfish fishery in the Solway.

In the context of the Company objectives sustainability is defined as follows:-

Sustainable fishing involves securing the survival of the fishing industry by ensuring that the shellfish stocks are not over exploited. Fishing methods should be adopted and managed to protect biodiversity and prevent damage to the marine environment.