Q: What is the AARC project?

The AARC project partnership will cooperate intensively to deliver a strategy for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), which will be demonstrated across the Atlantic Area, in targeted river basins, networked by regional/river observatories in each Member State. A central focus will be culturally and economically important migratory fish species which link water marine, coastal and freshwater resources, which are currently managed separately.

Q: How is the AARC Project funded?

The project is funded by the EC Interreg Atlantic Area Transnational Programme.

Q: Does the AARC Project have a website?

This is currently under construction

Q: Who are the partners in the AARC project?

Westcountry Rivers Trust (UK), University of Exeter (UK), Electricity Supply Board (IE), The Environment Agency (UK), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (FR), ICETA - University of Porto (PT), University College Cork (IE), Shannon Regional Fisheries Board (IE), Mancomunidad Cinco Villas (ES), Council of Environment, Territorial Ordination and infrastructure (ES), ADDLAP - Associação de Desenvolvimento Dão, Lafões e Alto Paiva (PT), ADIRN - Associação para o Desenvolvimento Integrado do Ribatejo Norte (PT), Marine Institute (IE).

Q: What other projects is the AARC project based on?

The AARC project is based on the following Interreg projects; ASAP Atlantic Salmon Arc Project, ASAPII Atlantic Salmon Arc Project 2, SALAR Project, WATERWAYSNET Project, ICREW Project, Green Dairy Project. It was also based upon the Tamar 2000 project (ESF Obj 1), Cornwall Rivers Project (ESF Obj 1), Life in UK Rivers (Life environment).

Q: How can fishermen get involved in helping with the AARC project?

Fishermen, either freshwater or saltwater can help us by collecting a scale sample from Sea Trout, Salmon and Shad that they catch. These are helpful because they can tell us a huge amount about the fish itself, its migrations, and genetics. These results are hugely beneficial, and can guide us in our fisheries management, river restoration, Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), and hatchery work.

Q: What countries and/or areas does the AARC project cover?

North West Europe: France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the UK.

Q: What are the underling principles of the AARC project?

• The Ecosystem Approach, which encompasses economics, societal choice and ecology to address complex environmental issues.
• The Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) which involves the many different stakeholders in water resource management.
• The Paid Ecosystem Model (PES), which gives payment to farmers and landowners for the ecological services that their land management provides. For example a water company may wish to pay farmers to maintain good water quality in the headwaters in order to reduce downstream clean up costs.

Q: What happens after the project is ended?

The work will continue in several different ways. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes will be developed and improved; for example anglers will pay landowners (mostly farmers) to fish their rivers under an 'Angling Passport Scheme' which gives landowners an incentive to look after their rivers. Educational courses will continue after the end of the project. Improved stocking and aquaculture approaches will be promoted and continue to develop. The river access network will be enjoyed for years to come by the public, and will promote their active engagement in waterway restoration. River assessment data will provide a benchmark for future restoration activities. Finally understanding the genetic basis for fish stocks is an essential foundation for future fisheries management

Q: How can genetics help fish management?

Genetics analysis is a powerful tool to learn about fish. For example It can be used to find out where are fish are going when they migrate to sea, and how many fish are managing to breed once they return to their rivers of origin.

Q: Who benefits from the AARC project?

The range of people and groups that benefit from good water resource management is huge. Consumers of drinking water, tourists and those whose business depend on tourism, anglers, water companies, farmers and other riparian landowners, school children and university students who learn about our waterways, and many other groups. Basically it is anyone who uses water, and our water catchments.