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. The actions demonstrated will continue and expand after the project is complete because a central theme of the project is concerned with linking resource protection to sustainable economic development though a Paid Ecosystem Service model, as recommended by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and IUCN via the Ecosystem Approach. Cultural, Economic and Environmental issues will be embraced to deliver sustainable resource protection. 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. The project integrates the strongest elements of previous Interreg IIIB projects in a new coordinated and innovative approach. Achievements: Now the project has ended work will continue in several different ways. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes will be continue and be 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. Now the AARC project has created a genetic database that allows us link marine and freshwater fisheries. Before the project if a sea trout was caught at sea, there was no clue as what river stock it belonged to. Even if that river stock was verging on the edge of extinction. Now if someone catches a sea trout at sea we can tell which river it came from, and the link between freshwater and marine fisheries management is made.See more information under: http://aarcproject.org