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Poaching and fish theft etc - hampshire

Ray Walton

Ray Walton

Senior Member
:rolleyes:The Environment Agency has announced a major crackdown on poaching across all of Hampshire’s rivers, streams and estuaries following a recent increase in fish theft and illegal angling.
From today (Monday 1 October), specialist Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officers will be carrying out increased patrols and surveillance at known poaching hotspots to target individuals involved in illegal angling activities. Over the coming weeks specialist officers will also be stepping up their day and night patrols along the coast to clamp down on illegal fishing.
Sadly, over the past few months the Environment Agency has received numerous reports of illegal fishing together with evidence showing an increase in poaching. Recent enforcement activity has included the seizing of illegal fishing equipment, including a spear gun and a ‘snatch’. A snatch is a weighted treble-hook which is used to deliberately ‘foul hook’ or impale fish.
Tim Sykes of the Environment Agency said: “Recently we have received increasing reports from responsible anglers of unscrupulous individuals using illegal and dangerous equipment to catch fish. These methods have the potential to harm wildlife, seriously damage fish stocks and our natural heritage, and ruin the sport for future generations.
“The Environment Agency is committed to eliminating illegal fishing. We urge anglers and members of the public to report any suspicious nets, traps or set-lines they come across, or if they see someone shining a light into a river at night. We take illegal fishing very seriously indeed and will look to prosecute perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.
“Our fisheries officers regularly patrol rivers, streams, lakes & coastal waters to ensure that fishing is carried out in a safe and legal way. Due to the recent reported increase in cases of illegal fishing, more patrols will be carried out both during the day and night to catch anyone who flouts the law. Those caught as a result of this crackdown can expect to face a fine of up to £50,000.â€
It is not just poachers who could end up paying a hefty fine as retail outlets need to be aware of the regulations too. It is illegal to sell rod-caught salmon and sea trout as the fish must be sourced from legitimate fisheries, and buyers should check that all fish have an Environment Agency tag attached. Any outlet convicted of handling fish in suspicious circumstances faces a fine of up to £5,000.

Legitimate salmon anglers on the rivers Test and Itchen are a great help in keeping a watchful eye on our rivers and by voluntarily returning all rod-caught fish to the river so that they can continue with their spawning migration. A large female salmon may carry up to 10,000 eggs, so if these fish are illegally removed it can have a major impact on future fish stocks in our local rivers.
Newly created paths or flattened vegetation along the banks can often be a sign that illegal fishing has taken place. Illegal set-lines and nets can often be tied to low hanging branches near the waterline. If anglers or members of the public do come across these illegally set instruments they should leave them in place and report the location immediately.
If anyone thinks that they have seen any illegal fishing, they should phone the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 with information on environmental crime. National and Regional byelaws can be found on the Environment Agency’s website: Environment Agency - Fishing
Environment Agency - Environment Agency wages war on Hampshire poachers
 
they should of done this in march and not announce it.







ps, i seem to have john cooks avatar.....lol
 
Hi men ,

Dave , the avatar pic , is that sign near a lake that once held a big black mirror ?.

Hatter
 
Mark Anderson said:
Hi men ,

Dave , the avatar pic , is that sign near a lake that once held a big black mirror ?.

Hatter
Click to expand...
no mark, no where near the mere, nearer denham, illegal to fish mere that is, that black fish is up north now even if it's reported dead.
 
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Hi men ,

I looked at the mere when the fish was still hush hush . My limited time put it off the radar , and all the problems that went with it . Nicer waters in the valley to go at without being arrested !.


Hatter
 
I never take too much notice of these rumours that always circulate around big fish, especially that particular one. Even the fact that it was claimed that the black mirror was 'buried before the EA were told' could be viewed both ways. Either the fish had already gone, so the 'buried before EA were told' story was made up to cover up for the body being absent...or some sentimental soul did bury it...perhaps with full service and last post playing and all :D

Joking aside, it is very sad if some wierd pollution or whatever has killed this lovely old fish before it's time, because it is part of angling history, a legend that has more great stories woven around it than almost any other fish. And incidentally, for those who dismiss carp as mere 'mud pigs'...think again. Carp have individual character and intelligence, even if they do sometimes slip up and get caught. I am guilty of slipping up and getting caught at times as well, so....hmmm, no, forget that last bit...that just proves that they are sometimes as daft as me, and that's not doing them any favours at all :p

Cheers, Dave.
 
big carp growing legs and legging it, pretty common within carp circles as are some big barbel now.

back on topic.
as long as they don't disappear into a LIDI BAG....LOL
 
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David Hall said:
big carp growing legs and legging it, pretty common within carp circles as are some big barbel now.

back on topic.
as long as they don't disappear into a LIDI BAG....LOL
Click to expand...

You said it was moved up North mate, was it or not ? Or was that just a aspersion you was casting ?:rolleyes:
 
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