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Illegal Eel Trap Drowns Otter

By FishingMagic 02/03/2012 14:26:00

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The Environment Agency is urging anglers to report illegal fishing activity after an otter died in an illegal eel trap.

A net with the dead otter inside was found this week three miles from the centre of Boston in Stonebridge Drain. The EA report that not only did the net omit a guard to prevent otters entering and becoming trapped but also that it also appeared during the close season for eel fishing, which runs until 01 April.

Phil Smith, Environment Agency Biodiversity Officer, said:

“The police have been informed of this illegal fishing activity and if investigations lead to finding who set the net, a prosecution will follow.

The eel population is declining so it is vital that eel netsmen respect the close season to ensure that fishing practices are sustainable. In this instance, an otter, a protected species, has also suffered as a result of the illegal activity.”

Eel nets have to be licensed by the Environment Agency, should have a numbered tag to allow identification and be fitted with a guard to prevent otters entering. The season for trapping eels is between 01 April and 10 December in any year.

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Comments (7 posted):

geoffmaynard on 02/03/2012 20:41:10

"The season for trapping eels is between 01 April and 10 December in any year" Why? Either eels are an endangered species or they are not. Anglers can't fish for Shad or Powan, so why are these eel licences still being issued? Someone enlighten me.

Lord Paul of Sheffield on 02/03/2012 20:50:30

beerweasel on 02/03/2012 20:53:56

I was under the belief that the last licensed Eel trapper was a Mr Carter who lives in the fens somewhere. :w

cg74 on 03/03/2012 13:57:37

A distinct bit of irony there; it's only news worthy because a species that is experiencing a population rise is killed, yet if said trap was stuffed full of its intended quarry (which is in massive decline), would that warrant a mention?

Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) on 03/03/2012 15:41:12

Hmmm....is this the answer to the 'otter problem'?

Jeff Woodhouse on 03/03/2012 18:28:27

Anglers can't fish for Shad or Powan, so why are these eel licences still being issued? Anglers can fish for eels (in season), but they can't remove one for the table. Where's the sense in that when trappers can still fish for them? Either they're endangered and fully protected or not.

john m h on 03/03/2012 23:12:53

I heard a silly woman on a BBC's Radio 4 cookery programme this week saying that eels are no longer on the endangered list and from this year will be back on the sustainable species list :rolleyes: Cook/eat as many as you want, she said.

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