I
Ian Cloke
Guest
Eastern European fishermen have angered the local angling community by making the most of an old bylaw.
The rising numbers of Polish nationals in Bedford have been blamed by fishermen for depleting stocks as they claim they have illegally been keeping their catch for the dinner table rather than returning them to the water.
But the Poles are not breaking the law as there is a bylaw in the eastern region which allows fisherman to keep two fish per day ? as long as they have a fishing licence.
While freshwater fish such as carp, perch, roach, bream and pike are considered inedible by the British, in many central and eastern European countries they are regarded as delicacies.
In Poland carp is part of a traditional meal eaten on Christmas Eve. The meal starts with a soup made from the head, fins and other discarded parts of the fish and is followed by fried carp with potatoes and vegetables.
As tensions rise between British and migrant fisherman, the Environment Agency has responded to the situation to restore peace on the riverbanks and to prosecute thieves by sending out ?high-impact fisheries enforcement? officers.
These officers will have the same powers as police when enforcing fisheries law. They have also been trained in surveillance techniques.
But the Environment Agency recently sent out staff with a reporter from The Angling Timesto check the situation.
This investigation found 75 per cent of the anglers questioned in this area were east Europeans and all the fishermen had licenses.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: ?Our recent investigation found that Eastern European fisherman do have licences so they are able to fish in public rivers and lakes.
?There is also a bylaw in the eastern region which allows fisherman to keep two fish per day. In some parts of the country you are not allowed to keep any fish and in others it is up to six fish.
?However, this bylaw does not mean that we are not taking fish theft seriously. If anyone suspects this is going on near them please call us on 0800 807060 immediately.?
The rising numbers of Polish nationals in Bedford have been blamed by fishermen for depleting stocks as they claim they have illegally been keeping their catch for the dinner table rather than returning them to the water.
But the Poles are not breaking the law as there is a bylaw in the eastern region which allows fisherman to keep two fish per day ? as long as they have a fishing licence.
While freshwater fish such as carp, perch, roach, bream and pike are considered inedible by the British, in many central and eastern European countries they are regarded as delicacies.
In Poland carp is part of a traditional meal eaten on Christmas Eve. The meal starts with a soup made from the head, fins and other discarded parts of the fish and is followed by fried carp with potatoes and vegetables.
As tensions rise between British and migrant fisherman, the Environment Agency has responded to the situation to restore peace on the riverbanks and to prosecute thieves by sending out ?high-impact fisheries enforcement? officers.
These officers will have the same powers as police when enforcing fisheries law. They have also been trained in surveillance techniques.
But the Environment Agency recently sent out staff with a reporter from The Angling Timesto check the situation.
This investigation found 75 per cent of the anglers questioned in this area were east Europeans and all the fishermen had licenses.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: ?Our recent investigation found that Eastern European fisherman do have licences so they are able to fish in public rivers and lakes.
?There is also a bylaw in the eastern region which allows fisherman to keep two fish per day. In some parts of the country you are not allowed to keep any fish and in others it is up to six fish.
?However, this bylaw does not mean that we are not taking fish theft seriously. If anyone suspects this is going on near them please call us on 0800 807060 immediately.?