New Chairman for Salmon & Trout Association

James Carr elected unopposed at S&TA AGM

James Carr is the new Chairman of the Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA).  He takes over from Tony Bird, who served as Chairman for the past six years.

Previously one of S&TA’s Vice Chairmen and a senior figure for many years in the north, his special vision is to create a united NGO voice to influence the vital angling and fisheries issues of the day, particularly over the management and conservation of the aquatic environment, by working closely with other angling, fisheries and conservation groups.

“I am honoured and delighted to take on the Chairmanship of the Salmon & Trout Association,” said James Carr, “and I look forward to building on the solid foundations left me by Tony Bird.  These are exciting times within fisheries and angling, with a plethora of important issues for the Association to address.  I am especially eager to work closely with colleagues in other organisations, both from the fisheries and conservation worlds.  A coordinated, consensus approach from a powerful NGO lobby is essential, especially if we are to preserve our aquatic environment for the benefit of fisheries and all other dependent habitats and species.”

James Carr is superbly qualified for his new position, having been closely involved in fisheries and angling issues for many years.  This knowledge and experience will be invaluable to S&TA, as will be his business background.  He is currently Chair of the Cumberland Building Society and Vice Chair of Rural Regeneration Cumbria (formed to manage the North West Development Agency programme for rural regeneration in Cumbria).

In addition to working with the S&TA for 20 years, he served as Chairman of the Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee to the National Rivers Authority (North West Region) and its follow-on Committee, the Regional Fisheries Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee to the Environment Agency (North West Region) for 10 years (until 2002).

James is a current Board Director of the Atlantic Salmon Trust and Association of Rivers Trusts, and is a founder and Trustee of the Eden Rivers Trust and Secretary of the Eden Owners Association.  Other positions include committee membership of the Country Land & Business Association Environment and Water Sub-committee, National Trust North West Advisory Committee and North West Development Agency Environment Committee.