River Camel Salmon Poachers - Bailiffs On Mountain Bikes

Environment Agency officers in Cornwall have taken to the saddle to catch salmon poachers and licence dodgers on the River Camel.

The switch from motor vehicles to mountain bikes has proved highly successful and not only helps river bailiffs with their fisheries enforcement work, but is better for the environment.

Environment officers Phil Christie and Claudine Fontier regularly take to two wheels to patrol the banks of the River Camel. The work includes checking rod licences and looking for signs of illegal fishing or pollution.

The pair can often be seen on the Camel Trail, a popular cycle route used by thousands of visitors every year to explore the countryside between Bodmin and Padstow. The Camel is an important salmon river that has been targeted by poachers in the past.

‘Cycling along the Camel Trail may seem like a pleasant way to spend a summer evening, but is actually a very effective method of covering a long length of river quickly and getting to remote locations that would otherwise be difficult to access,’ said Paul Mitchell for the Environment Agency.

‘It is also environmentally friendly and helps keep our carbon footprint down by reducing the number of miles driven while providing our officers with some valuable physical exercise,’ he added.

Phil and Claudine’s riverside patrols have already taken a number of anglers by surprise. Fishermen should always take their rod licence with them so they can produce it if ask to do so by an Agency bailiff.

A photograph of Phil Christie and Claudine Fontier on their trusty steeds is available from the Environment Agency regional press office. For further details call 01392 442008.

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£250 Fine For Illegal Angler James Taylor

Fishing for trout out of season proved a costly mistake for angler James Taylor after he was caught in broad daylight.

On February 19, 2008 Taylor was spotted fishing with a rod and line near Abbey Weir on the River Tavy at Tavistock. An Environment Agency bailiff asked him what he was fishing for and the defendant said trout. He was using a worm as bait.

Taylor produced a valid rod licence, but was reminded that the licence clearly states fishing is subject to close seasons and that on the River Tavy trout fishing is prohibited between October 1 and March 14. The purpose of the ban is to protect fish during the breeding season.

Taylor, of Madge Court, Tavistock was today fined £250 by Plymouth magistrates and ordered to pay £75 costs for fishing for trout with a rod and line during the close season, contrary to Section 19(4)(b) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. He was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge. The case was proved in his absence.

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Dieing Salmon In River Wye

1000 young salmon and trout (fry) found dead in the Rhyd Hir brook

Environment Agency Wales are investigating the cause of death of nearly 1000 young salmon and trout (fry) in the Rhyd Hir brook, a tributary of the River Wye in Rhayader.

Officers who attended the site collected samples of dead fish which have been sent to the Environment Agency National Fisheries Laboratory.  A post mortem examination is underway.

A 600 metre stretch of the brook has been affected on the outskirts of the town.  Water samples have also been taken and sent for analysis.

No impact has been detected on the main River Wye and initial survey results suggest that the invertebrate species on which the fish feed have largely been unaffected.

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Salmon Fishing On The River Nene

After being absent from our local rivers for decades, a salmon has been filmed swimming through a fish pass which the Environment Agency installed at its Dog in a Doublet sluice on the River Nene near Peterborough.

Although the numbers of salmon and sea trout (another migratory fish) have been declining across the country, the Environment Agency has been hearing reports that salmon have been entering rivers in this area. The film taken at the Dog in the Doublet sluice provides proof that the fish is returning and a local fisherman has also caught two sea trout on the River Welland.

The salmon was filmed using an underwater digital CCTV camera which was installed at the Dog in a Doublet fish pass to monitor all the fish travelling through the pass. The data is then recorded and hours of footage can be downloaded from the computer on site.

The fish pass was built by the Environment Agency in 1994 to help fish in the river get past the Dog in a Doublet sluice. By slowing the flow of water through a carefully designed channel it enables fish to pass the structure and complete their natural migration upstream. Previously they would have had to negotiate an alternative, more difficult, route under the sluice, and many would fail or be picked off by predators such as cormorants and otters.

Poor water quality and barriers to movement, such as locks and weirs, have been responsible for the loss of salmon and sea trout from our rivers.  As well as carefully regulating industries which discharge into waterways, the Environment Agency has worked with water companies to ensure the investment which has led to recent improvements in water quality.  The Environment Agency is also completing a programme of installing fish passes on its structures to allow the movement of fish upstream.

Chris Reeds of the Environment Agency said ‘The work we have undertaken to remove barriers to fish migration, alongside  major improvements to water quality, is beginning to attract these spectacular fish back into our rivers.  We will continue our work to ensure that salmon and sea trout are a regular sight in this area.’

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River Slea Polution

Fishing The River Slea Back To Normal

An Environment Agency survey has shown that the number and variety of fish in the River Slea has returned to normal, five years after a pollution incident decimated populations.

In 2003, hundreds of litres of pesticides were washed into the River Slea and although the Environment Agency was quick to try to contain the incident, around 100,000 fish were killed and all other aquatic life was wiped out.  This year’s fish survey shows that the river is well on the way to recovery with a range of fish being caught including elvers, brown trout, pike and perch.

The Environment Agency has restocked the river with nearly 40,000 fish since 2003, partly paid for by the prosecution of the people responsible for the pollution incident.  The size of some of the fish caught shows that adult fish are also entering the Slea from the River Witham.

Chris Reeds of the Environment Agency said: ‘This is excellent news!  Good numbers of fish indicate a really healthy river environment, in stark contrast to the aftermath of the pollution in 2003. Hopefully we’ll see anglers returning to the river in the near future.’

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Cray Fish Plague

Anglers Asked To Look Out For Dead CrayFish

Over recent days hundreds of dead crayfish have been seen in the lower River Colne in Colchester. Crayfish plague or another disease is suspected as the cause.

Following reports from a Castle Park Ranger, Environment Agency staff confirmed the deaths and sent samples for analysis.

The CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science) lab in Weymouth is analysing the animals to see if they are infected with the highly virulent fungal disease Aphanomyces astaci, commonly known as crayfish plague.

This outbreak follows hot on the heels of a similar outbreak on the River Waveney in October last year. Having two such outbreaks so close in time and place is very unusual. It shows more needs to be done to prevent the spread of this disease.

The animals affected in both cases are Turkish crayfish – an alien invasive species, which has died in its hundreds over the past few weeks.

However, if the disease spreads to other river systems, the rare native white-clawed crayfish could also be affected and crayfish plague has already wiped out many populations of this species.

The Environment Agency is alerting all anglers and other river users to the potential presence of this disease and asking that, as a precaution, they thoroughly clean their equipment before using it in any other waters to stop this disease from spreading once again.

Crayfish in the Colne belong to a non-native or alien species called Turkish or narrow-clawed crayfish which originates from eastern Europe and western Asia, originally imported to supply the restaurant trade. In common with other European species, this is susceptible to crayfish plague.

The population in the Colchester area has been known for a number of years. The presence of this large species can cause problems such as burrowing into banks, taking anglers bait and preying on river invertebrates and fish eggs. So a thinning or loss of this species from the Colne is not a problem in itself. However, there is great concern that the plague could spread to other river systems.

This virulent disease has wiped out many populations of our native white-clawed crayfish in England and Wales. Alien crayfish species from America, notably signal crayfish, carry the disease but are not susceptible to it. It is spread by affected crayfish or, more commonly, equipment such as fishing nets, boats etc being transferred from infected waters.

White-clawed crayfish were formerly widespread but have been wiped out from many rivers and now exist in increasingly isolated populations. There is so much concern for the future that it has been designated a Biodiversity Action Plan species as part of the UK’s response to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and protected by EU legislation (Habitats Directive). The only remaining populations in Suffolk and Essex are in the Stour, Blackwater and Chelmer.

The Environment Agency is strongly advising that anyone using equipment in the river take recommended precautions before using the same equipment in any other river system.

Anything that comes into contact with the water – keep nets, footwear, boats, farm machinery etc – could potentially spread the disease. To stop this happening, carry out the following steps:

· Clean off any mud or vegetation and remove any standing water

Then either

· Thoroughly dry the equipment, preferably in sunlight making sure all nooks and crannies are dry.

Or

· Treat with a proprietary disinfectant capable of killing fungal spores. (Please contact the Environment Agency for further information about this option).

There is no need to carry out these precautions if equipment is being moved to another site within the Colne.

It is not known how the disease spread to the Colne or the Waveney, but it is likely that it was through contaminated equipment, possibly even an unlicensed crayfish trap. This underlines the need to carry out these precautions. If the same situation had occurred in the Chelmer, it would have lead to the eventual loss of this species from Essex.

Julia Stansfield, fisheries, recreation and biodiversity officer for the Environment Agency said: ‘This second outbreak is really worrying for the future of our native crayfish. Without a change in people’s behaviour, it seems only a matter of time before one or more populations of native crayfish is wiped out. We urge all river users to clean and dry or disinfect any equipment before taking it from one river or lake to another. A few careless acts could lead to the loss of this fascinating species from East Anglia.

‘One possible route for the spread of this disease is use of unlicenced crayfish traps. The idea of this ‘wild food’ is much in vogue. While this is safe to do in parts of the country where native crayfish have already been wiped out, in the east of England we are trying to protect one of the last strongholds.

‘If members of the public notice dead crayfish in any other rivers, please let the Environment Agency know as soon as possible.’

The number to contact is 0800 80 70 60.

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Anglers Fined For Having No Rod Licence

 

On Friday 18 April 2008, at Welshpool Magistrates Court, fishing without a valid rod licence cost five cheating anglers a total of £670.00.

With water bailiffs on the look out and prosecutions like this on the increase, this case should send a clear message to anglers that a day’s fishing in the Midlands without an Environment Agency rod licence could prove very expensive indeed. The maximum possible fine for fishing without a licence is £2,500.

Andrew Laird, aged 22 years, of Lon Afallen, Trehafren, Newtown was fined £150, ordered to pay £75 in costs and a victim surcharge of £15. He was convicted of a charge of fishing without a licence. The offence was committed at Glanhafren on the River Severn on 14 October 2007.

Kenneth Aspinall, aged 20 years, of Lon Eithen, Trahafren, Newtown was fined £100, ordered to pay £75 in costs and a victim surcharge of £15. He was convicted of a charge of fishing without a licence. The offence was committed at Glanhafren on the River Severn, on 14 October 2007.

Steven Lewis, aged 29 years, of Kerry Street, Montgomery was fined £150, ordered to pay £75 in costs and a victim surcharge of £15. He was convicted of a charge of fishing without a licence. The offence was committed at Blue Bell Park, Caereinion, on 9 September 2007.

Speaking after the cases, Midlands Strategic Specialist, Martin Cooper, said: “Anglers who fish without a valid rod licence need to be aware that our Water Bailiffs are out and about checking rod licenses. As today’s result demonstrates, sooner or later they are going to get caught and we won’t hesitate to prosecute.

“Not only does a prosecution prove costly, with fines of up to £2,500, it also marks an angler out as someone who cheats his fellow anglers. When you buy a rod licence, the money is used to help fund our work managing fisheries and improving the sport for everyone, work such as re-stocking rivers after pollution incidents. So if you don’t buy a rod licence, you reduce the pleasure of the sport for everyone else.

“The message from this court case is loud and clear – if you haven’t got a valid rod licence, get one today.”

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Yorkshire School Children Have Lessons On Trout From The Environment Agency

Schoolchildren at Kettlewell Primary School in North Yorkshire are getting a first hand experience of wildlife, as part of the Environment Agency’s Trout in the Classroom project.

Trout in the Classroom gives school children the opportunity to learn about life-cycles, food chains, habitat and conservation as they rear fish from eggs to young fish in specially designed tanks within the school. The project is a partnership between the Environment Agency and Jet Set UK.

Children at Kettlewell Primary School have created a photographic diary, following the trout as they hatch from their eggs and grow in the classroom tank.

The trout eggs for the project came from a hatchery at Bolton Abbey and hatched in the classroom tank this month . Once the trout have grown and they are ready to go back to the river, they will be put in to the River Wharfe, which runs in front of the school.

John Littlewood, Environment Agency fisheries and recreation officer, said: “Once the young brown trout are big enough to survive in the wild, we’ll help the school release them back into the River Wharfe.

“We hope to expand the project to other schools in the area this year, to help improve the brown trout stocks in local streams in the area.”

Tracy Briggs, administrator at Kettlewell Primary School said: “This is a really exciting project for the children and the staff too. Three weeks after the eggs arrived they started to hatch and the fish started to swim around. First thing every morning the children can’t wait to see what is happening next. The tank is causing great excitement and the children are very proud to see the fish growing every day.”

Schools wanting to find out more about how they can get involved in the Trout in the Classroom project should see www.jetsettroutintheclassroomuk.org

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Cray Fish Plague

Outbreak Of Crayfish Plague (October 2007)

Over recent weeks hundreds of dead crayfish have been seen in the lower River Waveney between Outney Common near Bungay and Beccles. Crayfish plague or another disease is suspected as the cause.

Dead crayfish were first noticed by a local farmer in the middle of September and later by anglers. Unfortunately the Environment Agency were not informed until early October when samples were taken and sent for analysis.

The CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science) lab in Weymouth are analysing the animals to see if they are infected with the highly virulent fungal disease Aphanomyces astaci, commonly known as crayfish plague. Results are expected on Monday October 22nd.

The animals affected are Turkish crayfish – an alien invasive species, which has died in its hundreds over the past few weeks.

However, if the disease spreads to other river systems, the rare native white-clawed crayfish could also be affected and crayfish plague has already wiped out many populations of this species.

The Environment Agency is alerting all anglers, canoeist and other river users to the potential presence of this disease and asking that, as a precaution, they thoroughly clean their equipment before using it in any other waters to stop this disease from spreading once again.

Crayfish in the Waveney belong to a non-native or alien species called Turkish or narrow-clawed crayfish which originates from eastern Europe and western Asia, originally imported to supply the restaurant trade. In common with other European species, this is susceptible to crayfish plague.

Recent surveys showed a dense population in the Waveney present from Flixton to Oulton Broad. The presence of this large species can cause problems such as burrowing into banks, taking anglers bait and preying on river invertebrates and fish eggs. So a thinning or loss of this species from the Waveney is not a problem in itself. However, there is great concern that the plague could spread to other river systems.

This virulent disease has wiped out many populations of our native white-clawed crayfish in England and Wales. Alien crayfish species from America, notably signal crayfish, carry the disease but are not susceptible to it. It is spread by affected crayfish or, more commonly, equipment such as fishing nets, boats etc being transferred from infected waters.

White-clawed crayfish were formerly widespread but have been wiped out from many rivers and now exist in increasingly isolated populations. There is so much concern for the future that it has been designated a Biodiversity Action Plan species as part of the UK’s response to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and protected by EU legislation (Habitats Directive). Norfolk rivers such as the Wensum, Yare and Stiffkey contain some of the last populations in East Anglia.

The Environment Agency is strongly advising that anyone using equipment in the river take recommended precautions before using the same equipment in any other river system. The stretch of river to be considered potentially affected is anywhere downstream of Homersfield, including Oulton Broad.

Anything that comes into contact with the water – keep nets, waders or wellington’s, canoes or other craft, farm machinery etc – could potentially spread the disease. To stop this happening, carry out the following steps:

• Clean off any mud or vegetation and remove any standing water

Then either

• Thoroughly dry the equipment, preferably in sunlight making sure all nooks and crannies are dry.

Or

• Treat with a proprietary disinfectant capable of killing fungal spores. (Please contact the Environment Agency for further information about this option).

There is no need to carry out these precautions if equipment is being moved to another site within the Waveney or its tributaries. Also if boats are being transferred via the sea or Breyodon Water, there is no need as the spores will be killed by sea water.

It is not known how the disease spread to the Waveney, but it is likely that it was through contaminated equipment, possibly even an unlicensed crayfish trap. This underlines the need to carry out these precautions. If the same situation had occurred in the Wensum, it would have dealt a severe blow to the future of the native white-clawed crayfish in East Anglia.

Julia Stansfield, fish, recreation and biodiversity officer for the Environment Agency said: ‘We are really concerned about the risk that this disease, if present, could spread to other rivers and wipe out populations of native crayfish. We urge all river users to clean and dry or disinfect any equipment that has been in the Waveney recently before using it in any other river. A few careless acts could lead to the loss of this fascinating species from East Anglia.

‘With a little help from river users, we can hopefully keep our remaining white-clawed crayfish safe. If members of the public notice dead crayfish in any other rivers, please let the Environment Agency know as soon as possible.’

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Environment Agency Rod Licence

December 2007 rod licence prosecutions

If you bought someone aged 12 years old or over a fishing rod for Christmas, make sure they have a valid rod licence before they try it out.

The reminder comes as 344 anglers were brought in front of the courts by the Environment Agency in December, resulting in more than £51,000 in fines and costs. In addition five anglers received cautions from the courts, and a man from Hastings was banned from fishing for a year and ordered to pay £265 in fines and cost after being caught without a rod licence.

Fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish and eels in England and Wales and the Border Esk in Scotland requires a licence from the Environment Agency. Failure to have a licence is an offence. Those caught fishing illegally face tough penalties, including fines of up to £2,500 and a ban from fishing.

“With current full licences set to expire on March 31, it is very important at this time of year for all anglers to ensure they have a valid licence before heading out to fish,” explained Environment Agency Head of Fisheries Dafydd Evans.

“The rod licence fees are essential in improving and maintaining our fisheries in England and Wales, which is why our enforcement officers are out there checking for those who try to cheat the system. Last year, we invested approximately £30 million in fishing, with some £20 million of this coming from rod licence fees.

“The protection of vulnerable fish stocks and increasing fishing participation are among the Environment Agency’s key environmental objectives. The money raised through rod licence sales is invested directly in fisheries work that benefits all anglers.”

Rod licences expire on March 31, 2008. Buying a new licence couldn’t be easier - around 15,000 Post Offices and other outlets sell them; a direct debit can be set up, and they can be purchased over the phone (0870 1662662) or on-line at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence any time, day or night.

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Illegal Cray Fish Traps Kill Otters

The irresponsible and illegal setting of crayfish traps is leading to an increased number of otter deaths in Cambridgeshire. Three separate incidents of otters found dead in crayfish traps have been reported to the Environment Agency in the last few months.

People set traps to catch crayfish, often with the intention of eating them. The bait in the trap tempts the otter into it, from which it then can’t escape. This leads to the otter drowning under the water.

Otters are a protected species so killing them is illegal and could lead to a fine of up to £5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.

Andy Sadler from the Environment Agency’s Fisheries and Biodiversity Team commented, “A lot of work has been carried out to encourage otters in the county and numbers are now recovering. To find them needlessly killed is very disappointing, especially when people trapping crayfish can take simple measures to stop it happening.”

Anyone setting a crayfish trap must have consent from the Environment Agency and the owner of the river bank where they want to set the trap. If a trap is allowed, it must conform to strict size dimensions and some designs need to be fitted with an otter guard to stop otters getting into them. Some traps can also unintentionally trap water voles, another rare British mammal.

Andy continued, “Anyone wanting to set a crayfish trap must contact us and we will advise them on the byelaws they must comply with. As otter numbers recover it is becoming more likely that they could get caught in a trap so people really must think about this when setting crayfish traps.”

Matt Johnson of Huntingdonshire District Council Countryside Services, who manages the site where one of the dead otters was found said, “Knowing the wildlife value of the area we do not allow traps to be set on the brook, especially as we have been working hard to increase otter numbers there. We were extremely sad to find the dead otter in our park, particularly as we don’t think there are any crayfish in this part of the river.”

Ruth Hawksley of the Wildlife Trust who has been closely involved with the project to help otter numbers recover said, ” Otters are well adapted for life in the water so drowning is a particularly slow and cruel death for them. We urge anyone who is using crayfish traps to do so legally and to fit an otter guard where necessary.”

The Environment Agency does collect dead otters, whatever the cause of death, when they are reported to them and sends the otters away for post-mortem’s. This establishes the age, sex, weight and cause of death and gives valuable information on the general health and population of otters in the area

“© Environment Agency copyright

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Dorset Pier Poacher Brought To Court

A fisherman who fixed an illegal net to a Dorset pier was today ordered to pay £815 in fines and costs in a case brought by the Environment Agency.

Ah Chan claimed he was out to catch mullet when he set a monofilament gill net at Lake Pier, Hamworthy in Poole Harbour. One end of the net was fixed to the pier by a rope and the other tied to a wire gabion on the shore.

The use of fixed nets is prohibited in Poole Harbour between April 1 and September 30 to protect migrating salmon and sea trout. The byelaw is enforced by the Environment Agency.

Acting on a tip-off, an Agency bailiff arrived in Hamworthy at 5.20 am on August 30, 2007 and found the net stretched along the side the pier. The tide was ebbing and the net fully visible on the beach. It was still dark. A little over an hour later the bailiff observed a man retrieving the net from the pier.

He stopped and questioned Ah Chan who said he was only fishing for mullet – not salmon. He claimed someone had told him there were ‘lots of mullet around.’ He had set the net on the previous high tide.

Seizing the illegal net, the bailiff told Chan he would be reported for a fishing offence.

‘Monofilament gill nets are virtually invisible and pose a serious risk to migrating salmon and sea trout as they pass through coastal waters such as Poole Harbour on their way to local rivers to spawn. It is important fishermen are fully aware of byelaws and only use nets at the relevant time of the year,’ said Stuart Kingston-Turner for the Environment Agency.

Appearing before East Dorset magistrates sitting at Wimborne, Chan, of East Street, Blandford, Dorset was fined £400 and ordered to pay £415 costs after pleading guilty to, on or about August 30, 2007, placing a fixed net in tidal waters at Lake Pier, Hamworthy, Poole Harbour contrary to the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 and the Salmon act 1986.

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