05/12/2005
- A tip off from a member of the public led to the Environment
Agency making its biggest ever seizure of illegal fishing
nets in Cornwall at the weekend. The alarm was raised
on Saturday (Dec 3) evening after a small group of commercial
fishing boats were seen behaving suspiciously in St Austell
Bay. An eye-witness reported that gill nets were being
set close to the shore near Crinnis Beach. Netting is
restricted in this area to protect migrating salmon and
sea trout.
Local byelaws clearly state that fixed nets must be set
at least 3 metre below the surface of the sea to allow
salmon, that swim higher in the water, to pass safely
along this stretch of coastline without being caught.
An Environment Agency patrol boat was launched and a search
made of the sea between Black Head and Spit Beach.
Four illegal fixed nets were recovered totalling 1,500
metres in length – the largest measured 500 metres and
contained a dead harbour porpoise (Photo available). There
was no sign of any commercial fishing boats in the area.
In addition to the illegal gill nets, the Environment
Agency’s fisheries enforcement team recovered eight heavy
duty anchors. As well as an important bass fishery, St
Austell Bay is regarded as a vital holding area for salmon
and sea trout. The fish congregate in the Bay before entering
the River Fowey to spawn. The Fowey is one of only two
rivers in Cornwall currently meeting is breeding target
and is one of the most important salmon rivers in the
region.
‘Over the past 18 months we have seized and destroyed
8,000 metres of illegal nets in St Austell Bay. This latest
seizure shows that while many fishermen operate by the
rules, there is a small minority who cannot be trusted.
We have a good idea who set these nets and are continuing
our investigation,’ said Mark Pilcher for the Environment
Agency. This latest haul of illegal bass nets follows
similar seizures in other areas of Cornwall including
Whitsand Bay, Cawsand Bay, Gerrans Bay and the Percuil
Estuary where a prosecution is pending. Harbour porpoise
are regular visitors to St Austell Bay where they feed
on shoals of pilchard which are now present in coastal
waters frequented by bass and migrating salmon. |