Hungry seal upsets anglers

ANGLERS in a Yorkshire village are facing an unusual problem – what to do with this seal which is feasting on their fish.

The animal is living 50 miles inland by a weir in Topcliffe, near Thirsk, after swimming up the River Swale from the North Sea during floods in spring. But his habit of reportedly chomping his way through 150lb of chub and barbel a week has not gone down well with local fishermen.

There are even fears some rogue anglers may go to extremes to resolve the issue. Comments on one online fishing forum have included ‘just shoot it’ and ‘if it’s not caught someone will make it disappear!’

Jim Munden, president of Bradford City Angling Association which has fishing rights at the site, said: ‘As a responsible organisation we wouldn’t want anyone to take the law into their own hands.’

The bull seal has evaded five attempts by British Divers Marine Life Rescue and volunteers to capture and return him to a more usual habitat but efforts continue.