04/05/2005 - Durham magistrate’s
today banned a local man from holding a rod
licence for two years after he admitted trying
to catch salmon illegally.
Antony Ramm of Frank Street, Gilesgatemoor
in the city, admitted one offence of fishing
for salmon by stoke-hauling and one of failing
to produce a valid rod licence. He was also
fined £90 and ordered to pay costs of
£200 to the Environment Agency, which
brought the case.
Steve Alderson, prosecuting for the Environment
Agency, told the court that Ramm was caught
by Environment Agency bailiffs on 21 June
2004. He was seen that afternoon in Durham
City walking along the banks of the River
Wear.
Stroke-hauling is a method of fishing where
a hook on the end of a fishing line is cast
into the water and immediately pulled out
again in an attempt to hook the fish anywhere
in its body. This method of fishing is banned.
After climbing over a fence, the bailiffs
saw Ramm repeatedly casting his line and triple
hook into the river and pulling it out again.
The bailiffs approached and cautioned him
and asked him to show his rod licence. Ramm
was unable to produce a valid licence, and,
despite being given seven days to do so, has
so far failed to do so.
In mitigation Ramm claimed he had co-operated
with the bailiffs and admitted his crime.
After the case, Kevin Summerson, Environment
Agency fisheries enforcement team leader said:
"This is a cruel way of fishing, giving
the fish very little chance of escape. There
is no skill involved and the technique is
meant to catch as many fish as possible in
as short a time, with no regard to their well-being.
"We will not tolerate the abuse of our
fish populations in this manner and are delighted
the court has taken the offence so seriously.
I hope this serves as a warning to would-be
poachers that we know who you are and have
the means to catch you and see you in court."
