AN AGREEMENT between fishing and rafting interests on the Tay may be in place for the coming rafting season, the east area board of Scottish Natural Heritage was told yesterday.

But while local rafters have agreed to a framework, raft companies outside the Tay area have still to be persuaded to accept it.

Mr Philp Gaskell, area manager for Tayside and Clackmannan, in his quarterly report said the water access sub-committee of Perth and Kinross Access Forum had held a further meeting with both interests to help resolve their differences.

“After considerable discussion, the parties appear to have a framework they are both able to agree to,” his report said.

“The framework also has the full support of the Scottish Rafting Association who have said they will do their best to persuade other commercial rafting companies outwith Perthshire and individual rafters to adhere to the framework.”

He concluded, “There is still some work to be done on the details and formatting of the agreement, but the fundamentals seem to be there for the coming rafting season.”