illegal gill netting

Charlton

Well-known member
just borrowed this off Whitby's web site

if you suspect someone or a group of doing this, here are some pointers to allow you to report it to the authorities safely.

The Environment Agency (Environment Agency - Home for England and Wales and Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for Scotland) manages the rivers and many lakes inland but they also look after the British seashore and can act on illegal fishing activity from beaches, piers, rocks and jetties.

If you see anything suspicious, the first thing to do is get some details fixed in your mind (or down on paper).
The most important things they will need to know are:

1.Where the alleged offence was taking place
2.The time of day it was happening (this is particularly useful as it may happen regularly at the same time)
3.What methods were being used to catch the fish
4.The types of fish and approximate sizes
5.The number of people involved


Once you have these details, phone the EA as soon as possible on 0800 807060 and report this information.
Make sure you are given a Report Reference number so you can be certain your complaint is logged properly and this will also allow you to follow it up.

It is not recommended to approach and challenge these people as they may know that what they are doing is illegal and turn nasty.

With the right information and prompt action we can all do our bit to protect young, juvenile fish from illegal harvesting and therefore help ensure our fish stocks.
Illegal gill-netting goes on night after night along our shores and often-even deep inside our so-called bass nursery areas. Anglers are quick to complain amongst themselves at the effect the nets are having on their fishing and fish stocks, yet remain reluctant to do anything about it.

The fact is, that shore anglers are the people most likely to observe potential illegal netting and are best placed to report it to the necessary authorities. So how?

If you see a net that you suspect might be fishing illegally, then call 0800 807060 which is toll free and covers both England and Wales. You'll be connected to someone who will take the details from you regards the net location and put the investigative process in to immediate action.
they wont be happy until they have wiped them all out.
cheers ian
 
a few years ago i rang the ea about what looked like netting on a welsh bass beach, left details on the answer machine, a week later i got a call about it, far far too late for anyone to do anything about it, i described the vehicle, the reg number and even one of the guys, they ea officer confirmed then that it `sounded like someone we are watching`, obviously not watching hard enough, if someone had been there or available then they would have had the guys, the vehicle, the boat, the lot and prob a day in court, but no the usual we are overstretched excuse was pulled, seems the ea can move thier backsides to check on the freshwater revenues but little else
 
This may be a daft question but, how do you know if someone is doing this illegally? Are there rules where they can put these nets?
It would P*** me off if I hiked to a mark and only to find the place blocked by nets. But, is it legal. :confused:
 
Don,t expect the EA to be quick off the mark unless it is illegal netting of Salmon or Seatrout.
Lots of the bailiffs are on the rivers for most of the year after poachers or on trout and coarse fisheries looking for licence dodgers.
Its the same when reporting any pollution.
I once rang the hotline number on my licence to report some chemical going into the river at Durham,the girl asked me if any fish had been killed.When i said no,she told me to ring back when the fish started dying.
Talk about closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Still it would,nt hurt to ring them,they might do something.....
 
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