Post by Hoppy on Oct 11, 2007 20:42:27 GMT -1
Community service order and three year ban for Bridgwater fisherman
An elver fisherman from Bridgwater has been given a 120 hour community service order and banned from fishing for three years after being caught using illegal nets for a third time on the River Parrett.
The case was brought by the Environment Agency.
Stanley Harper from 22 Parkstone Avenue, Bridgwater, was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £250 costs after admitting the offences at Bridgwater Magistrates. His net is also to be destroyed by the Environment Agency.
In 2005, Stanley Harper was caught fishing illegally for elvers on the tidal river Parrett at Burrowbridge. Bridgwater Magistrates subsequently disqualified him from elver fishing for a year. The following year, while still banned from elver fishing, Harper was again caught at the same location using illegal elver fishing methods.
In the court case that followed the disqualification was increased. On 3 April 2007 Harper in contravention of his disqualification was again caught fishing illegally for elvers.
‘Stanley Harper has been caught not just once but three times fishing illegally for elvers and twice while he was banned from this activity by the courts. He knows perfectly well the law and the rules that go along with this sort of fishing,’ said Chris Povey for the Environment Agency.
‘The purpose of operating an oversized net and using ropes, poles, floats and stakes is to make a net that fishes itself and increases the catch of elvers which this year were fetching £250 per kilo on the bank.’
Bridgwater Magistrates warned Harper that he could face a prison sentence if he appeared before them again for a similar offence.
Stanley Harper admitted four offences of fishing for elvers with a prohibited instrument in contravention of the National Eel Fishery Byelaws 2004 and the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act of 1975.
An elver fisherman from Bridgwater has been given a 120 hour community service order and banned from fishing for three years after being caught using illegal nets for a third time on the River Parrett.
The case was brought by the Environment Agency.
Stanley Harper from 22 Parkstone Avenue, Bridgwater, was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £250 costs after admitting the offences at Bridgwater Magistrates. His net is also to be destroyed by the Environment Agency.
In 2005, Stanley Harper was caught fishing illegally for elvers on the tidal river Parrett at Burrowbridge. Bridgwater Magistrates subsequently disqualified him from elver fishing for a year. The following year, while still banned from elver fishing, Harper was again caught at the same location using illegal elver fishing methods.
In the court case that followed the disqualification was increased. On 3 April 2007 Harper in contravention of his disqualification was again caught fishing illegally for elvers.
‘Stanley Harper has been caught not just once but three times fishing illegally for elvers and twice while he was banned from this activity by the courts. He knows perfectly well the law and the rules that go along with this sort of fishing,’ said Chris Povey for the Environment Agency.
‘The purpose of operating an oversized net and using ropes, poles, floats and stakes is to make a net that fishes itself and increases the catch of elvers which this year were fetching £250 per kilo on the bank.’
Bridgwater Magistrates warned Harper that he could face a prison sentence if he appeared before them again for a similar offence.
Stanley Harper admitted four offences of fishing for elvers with a prohibited instrument in contravention of the National Eel Fishery Byelaws 2004 and the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act of 1975.