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Post by Hoppy on Mar 21, 2008 22:16:12 GMT -1
Environment Agency nets elver fishermen
The Environment Agency carried out a series of enforcement operations targeting illegal elver fishing on the River Severn in Gloucestershire last week.
Members of the Agency’s Environmental Crime Team were joined by police officers as eleven men were reported for various offences, and illegal nets and a vehicle were seized.
Environment Manager David Throup said “These operations are part of a planned enforcement campaign to prevent and disrupt illegal fishing for elvers. I hope that this will send a clear message that we will not tolerate the use of unlawful equipment and methods of taking fish.”
Mr Throup continued “Fishermen should be aware that we will enforce all of our byelaws as they are designed to protect fish stocks for the future. Research has shown that our eel populations are under threat and illegal elver fishing has a direct impact on the number of fish that can mature and return to the sea to spawn. If we do not protect these fish now there may be little or nothing for fishermen to catch in years to come.”
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