Salmon poachers will be buoyed by ‘catch and release’ proposal

ANGLERS are boycotting an Environment Agency salmon fishing consultation over plans to force them to return all their catches.

The Severn Fisheries Group, which represents 30 clubs and 31,000 anglers, says the plans will give free rein to poachers while deterring legitimate fishing.

A consultation opened last week proposing “mandatory catch and release” as well as limiting the methods that can be used for rod fishing of salmon and sea trout on the river. Its leadership has advised members to “withdraw participation”, arguing that the agency has failed to engage with them properly and that the plans are a “tick box exercise”.

Anglers argue that they are being unfairly penalised and that similar bylaws in force in Wales since last year are poorly enforced, meaning legitimate angling will be discouraged while lawbreakers persist.

Glyn Marshall, the group’s current co-ordinator, said that members were only given 24 hours to read preconsultation documentation before a meeting with the agency, and that many were unable to attend.

Pollution is a more likely cause of depleted stocks, he said. “We’ve got the dirtiest rivers in Europe. So in our group’s opinion, it’s easier to target granddad, out for a few hours salmon fishing on the river, and not looking at the bigger picture.

“Anglers are your eyes and ears on the river. If they’re not on the river, poachers will appear.”

A survey of 550 members of the Cheshire-based club, the Prince Albert Angling Society, found that none had been approached by enforcement officers while fishing in Wales last year.

Supporters of the consultation say it is necessary to preserve dangerously low salmon stocks.

The consultation is due to run until April 6, and any new rules would be implemented for 10 years, with a review after five years.

Chris Bainger, Fisheries Technical Specialist at the Environment Agency, said: “Long-lasting measures are now needed to provide greater protection to make sure those fisheries that continue to fish these stocks do so in a sustainable manner to support stock recovery as quickly as possible.”