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Displaying items by tag: fish stocks
Anglers of all disciplines have reacted furiously to comments by actor Robson Green about releasing fish. While publicising his new TV series, he reportedly said that he can’t understand anglers who release fish and incorrectly claimed that up to 9 out of 10 of them die.
The Angling Trust strongly disagrees with Robson Green’s views on this matter. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that fish can be caught and returned alive to the water without them suffering any significant stress or damage. In his latest series, we note that he himself returned most of the fish he caught.
If every angler followed Mr. Green’s advice, fish stocks would be decimated. Most coarse fish are not regarded as good to eat in any case, but many sea and game anglers now return most of their catch alive. Commercial fishing, illegal netting, pollution, over-abstraction and habitat damage have reduced many fish populations to critical levels and anglers do everything they can to try and protect stocks, investing millions each year on conservation initiatives.
The Angling Trust would advise all responsible anglers to release the fish they catch. We would also point out that all responsible anglers always treat their quarry with great respect, whatever they choose to do with them.
We know he has a television series to promote, but these comments are highly irresponsible, misinformed and damaging to angling. As the voice of angling, the Angling Trust is keen to ensure that the general public do not get the wrong impression about a pursuit in which millions of people participate responsibly.
Source: Angling Trust
In the early hours of 17 June, 2008, Mr X was discovered by Lancashire Police at his home on Thursby Road, with 25 freshwater fish (salmonoids) trapped in a large net. MR X appeared to be removing the fish from the net and from a number of plastic bags, officers also spotted a deflated dinghy in his front garden.
When questioned by officers at the scene, Mr X claimed to have taken the fish from the sea at Heysham, but on further questioning, he later admitted to having poached them from the Lune Estuary. Mr X also admitted to not having a licence to fish.
Richard McIlwain, Fisheries Team Leader for Lancashire said: “The removal of 25 fish from the Lune Estuary could have had a huge impact on fish stocks. If half the fish were female, there would potentially be a net loss to the river of around 60,000 salmon eggs.”
“Considerable time, effort and money has been spent on improving the fishery on the Lune, and for somebody to come along and just help themselves could have caused major set backs both ecologically and financially. Any re-stocking works will bring about considerable costs.”
“This is a significant case for the Environment Agency and we are satisfied with the result, let this be a warning to those who think poaching pays.”
Duncan Thomas, Lancashire Police Wildlife officer adds: “This is a classic example of successful partnership work between the Police and the Environment Agency, we are very happy with the conviction and sentence, and hope this sends a very clear message to poachers - that we are targeting them. We believe the fish would have been sold on for financial gain, so this fine will go a long way to redress the balance.”
During a formal interview with Environment Agency officers on 21 July, 08, Mr X responded to questioning with a ‘no comment’ response throughout. At the time of this incident Mr X was already on police bail in relation to offences of deception.
Source: The Environment Agency
