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Eel fisherman fined for endangering otters
Environment Agency News
Author: Mike Dunning
7th February 2003
Court Case, Poole, Nets
A Dorset man was today ordered to pay £500 in fines and costs for using illegal eel nets in Poole Harbour. The case was brought by the Environment Agency.
A water bailiff discovered more than 40 fyke nets near the entrance to Poole Yacht Club during routine patrols on April 22 and 23, 2002. On inspection he saw that none of the nets were fitted with otter guards or Environment Agency licence tags.
After removing fish, eels and crabs, the bailiff seized the nets and took them to the Environment Agency’s boathouse at Wareham.
It is an offence, under the National Rivers Authority Fisheries Byelaws 1992, to use a fyke net without an otter guard.
Several months ago a mother otter and her two cubs were killed in an illegal net in the River Stour. They drowned trying to disentangle themselves from the net after going in to feed on eels.
Poole Harbour is one of the most important areas for otters in the country with a healthy population. Surrounding rivers including the Frome, Piddle and Shoford are also showing signs of growing otter numbers.
“The recent death of a mother otter and her two cubs in a fyke net illustrates how dangerous unguarded nets can be and illustrates how important it is for the Environment Agency to remain vigilante and enforce the law,” said Emma Rothero for the Environment Agency.
Appearing before East Dorset Magistrates today, Steven Matthews, of Creekmoor, Poole, was fined £250 and ordered to pay £250 costs after pleading guilty to using prohibited instruments, namely 48 fyke nets without otter guards, in Poole Harbour between April 22-23, 2002, contrary to Section 211 (3) of the Water Resources Act 1991 and Byelaw 7E of the National Rivers Authority Fishery Byelaws 1992.
Doc reference:
21/03
Contact:
jane.williams@environment-agency.gov.uk
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