Police trained to clamp down on Perthshire fish poacher problem

Police officers from across Perthshire and Angus received expert training this week to assist in tackling fish poachers who are targeting the region’s rivers.

Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board (TDSFB) staff arranged a training day for police officers on fish poaching at their premises at Almondbank.

The fisheries board operates as the statutory body responsible for the protection and improvement of salmon fisheries across the Tay District.

Their team looks after the Atlantic salmon and sea trout within the river system, and also monitors and tends to the River Tay ecosystem as a whole.

The fisheries board’s bailiffs patrol the rivers looking for criminals who are fish poaching, along with a number of other duties.

Officers were trained to spot people who do not have the appropriate rights or permission to fish at this week’s session.

Seven officers attended from the Blairgowrie, Montrose, Forfar, Bridge of Earn, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl areas and were educated on legislation relating to fishing.

Police were shown a wide range of equipment, described as “very crude and rudimentary” which is illegally used to catch salmon in particular.

Afterwards, officers had a stroll along the River Almond, where the bailiffs showed police the kind of spots that were commonly frequented by poachers.

A police spokesperson said: “This was a very interesting and enlightening day.

“Many thanks to the staff of TDSFB for providing the training.”

Officers met earlier this week by in Almondbank.