Western Morning News (Saturday)
Angler fined for illegal fishing on river Exe
AMAN has been fined and had his fishing tackle confiscated for illegally fishing in the River Exe.
The angler was spotted by a volunteer bailiff repeatedly attempting to catch fish without a rod licence.
In a rare case the man appeared at Exeter Magistrates Court to face three charges of unlawfully attempting to take fish contrary to schedule one of the Theft Act and three offences of fishing without a rod licence on the River Exe in Devon, in June 2020.
He has been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £419 and had his fishing tackle confiscated and destroyed.
His conviction has been welcomed by the Exeter & District Angling Association and hailed as an example of how police, the Environment Agency, angling clubs and the Angling Trust Voluntary Bailiff Service can work together.
A club bailiff for the angling association, which controls the fishing rights on the river in Exeter, found the man fishing repeatedly without a club ticket. Using his VBS training, he reported the issue to the police.
After the man was observed and reported illegally fishing for a third time, police found him fishing without permission and without a valid licence between St James Weir and Trews Weir. The officer seized the fishing tackle and he was reported for the offences.
The defendant, from Exmouth, was fined £300 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service. The magistrates also ordered his fishing equipment, which was confiscated by police, to be forfeited under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 and destroyed by police.
Nevin Hunter, Angling Trust regional enforcement manager for the South West, said: “The conviction highlights the importance of teamwork, sharing intelligence and the value of the partnership between the Angling Trust Voluntary Bailiff Service, the police and Environment Agency.
“Hopefully, the fines and loss of his rods and reels will ensure that if he goes fishing in the future he does so legally, respecting the need to have a valid Environment Agency fishing licence and to make sure he has the relevant day ticket or permit on club waters.
“I commend the actions of our volunteer bailiff and his club bailiff colleagues for reporting the actions of [the man] and of the police in dealing with this case.
“The police and VBS liaising with the local environment agency fishery enforcement officers have achieved an excellent outcome.
“This should massively reassure local anglers and angling clubs that those breaking the law will be pursued and prosecuted and that the Angling Trust Voluntary Bailiff Service play a vital role in supporting angling across the country.”
PC Martin Beck said: “This result sends a clear message that working together we will help address criminality of concern to our local community and the Exeter & District Angling Association are an integral part of this in the Exeter area. We have built a strong relationship with the Angling Trust VBS and the Environment Agency and working together have shown what can be achieved.”
The Angling Trust Voluntary Bailiff Service is funded by fishing licence income. Volunteers receive training from enforcement professionals.