THE Environment Agency are delighted to be involved in a ground-breaking tracking project.

The project will track Atlantic salmon in the River Derwent, starting in April.

The cutting edge project is the first of its kind for Cumbria and will uncover more about the movement of fish from the River Derwent to the Irish Sea as well as the issues they face along the way.

Phil Ramsden from the Environment Agency said: "We're very excited about this project. This is a huge opportunity for the River Derwent salmon population, and all those who are interested in it.

"This is a pioneering project for Cumbria, and one of only a few ever conducted worldwide."

The Environment Agency has formed a strong partnership with the University of Glasgow, who will be leading this study through a PHD studentship.

With strong links to other key salmon tracking projects, such as "The Missing Salmon Project" this is a huge opportunity for the River Derwent to be on the forefront of scientific understanding in this area.

Amy Green, PHD student at the University of Glasgow, said: "I am excited to be starting this project and working alongside partners."

This is a chance to work with leading experts in this field to understand a part of the Derwent salmon's lifecycle that currently, nothing is known about, potentially putting the Environment Agency in a better position to make decisions that will help the decline in salmon stocks locally and internationally, this is a very significant and exciting project for all involved.