Navigation
News Articles
- Illegal Fishing Prosecutions
- Discounted Books & Media
- Trout & Salmon Articles
- Miscellaneous Articles
- Pollution Prosecutions
- EA Press Releases
- Fly Fishing Articles
Discount Books
- Shadows In The Stream
- The Adaptable Flyfisher
- Chalkstream Chronicle
- The First March Brown
- Fly Fishing Tactics
- The Bright Stream
- Fly Tying Guide
- The Stream
- Sea Trout
- Trout Etc
Photo Gallery
Buy online at the UK Fishers Fly Fishing Shop. 10% Discount on orders over £20. Free worldwide delivery on orders over £10.
Environment Agency
ACA
Every possible effort has been put into making sure that all content and links are correct and working.
If you find a problem, please let us know by contacting the Webmaster.
Exmoor Salmon Protection
Anti-poaching patrols are being stepped up on Exmoor rivers to protect spawning salmon.
Despite regular patrols, poachers struck last weekend and removed approximately 20 adult fish from a pool on the River Barle. The salmon were waiting to move upstream to spawn when they fell victim to a gang of poachers using illegal nets.
While on patrol, Agency officers discovered the pool had been emptied of salmon. Fish scales were found on the riverbank where the poachers had landed their illegal ‘booty’. There were also fresh marks at the side of the riverbank where a net had been fixed.
The poachers are believed to have returned to the river a second time and removed any remaining salmon still lying up in the pool.
‘The loss of these salmon to poachers is a serious setback. These were adult fish in prime breeding condition that were about to spawn. By stealing such important fish the poachers have robbed the River Barle and surrounding rivers of valuable future salmon stock. We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone we catch poaching,’ said Ann Riley for the Environment Agency.
The fishing season is now over. It is an offence under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 to remove a salmon from the river in the closed season, regardless of method used. Offenders face fines of up to £2,500.
As usual at this time of the year, the Environment Agency is stepping up patrols on the River Barle and surrounding rivers including the Bray, Upper Exe and Upper Taw. It will be working closely with Exmoor National Park Authority in this latest crackdown on salmon poachers. There will be similar anti-poaching patrols on other west country rivers as salmon start to move upstream to spawn.
Anyone who saw people behaving suspiciously near the River Barle last weekend, or sees any unusual activity near the river, can call the Environment Agency’s free 24-hour incident hotline 0800 80 70 60. Information can be provided anonymously if preferred.