I
Ian Cloke
Guest
Anti-poaching patrols are being stepped up on Exmoor rivers to protect spawning salmon.Despite regular patrols, poachers removed some 20 adult fish from a pool on the River Barle earlier this month. The salmon were waiting to move upstream to spawn when they fell victim to a gang of poachers using illegal nets.
Fish scales were found on the riverbank where the poachers had landed the salmon. There were also fresh marks at the side of the riverbank where a net had been fixed.
The poachers are believed to have returned to the river a second time and removed other salmon still lying up in the pool.
Ann Riley of the Environment Agency said: "The loss of these salmon to poachers is a serious setback. These were adult fish in prime breeding condition that were about to spawn.
"By stealing such important fish, the poachers have robbed the River Barle and surrounding rivers of valuable future salmon stock. We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone we catch poaching."
With the fishing season now over, it is an offence to remove a salmon from the river, regardless of the method. Offenders face fines of up to ?2,500.
Anyone who saw people behaving suspiciously near the River Barle on the weekend of November 11-12, or sees any unusual activity near the river, can call the Environment Agency's free 24-hour incident hotline 0800 807060.
Fish scales were found on the riverbank where the poachers had landed the salmon. There were also fresh marks at the side of the riverbank where a net had been fixed.
The poachers are believed to have returned to the river a second time and removed other salmon still lying up in the pool.
Ann Riley of the Environment Agency said: "The loss of these salmon to poachers is a serious setback. These were adult fish in prime breeding condition that were about to spawn.
"By stealing such important fish, the poachers have robbed the River Barle and surrounding rivers of valuable future salmon stock. We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone we catch poaching."
With the fishing season now over, it is an offence to remove a salmon from the river, regardless of the method. Offenders face fines of up to ?2,500.
Anyone who saw people behaving suspiciously near the River Barle on the weekend of November 11-12, or sees any unusual activity near the river, can call the Environment Agency's free 24-hour incident hotline 0800 807060.