ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ISSUES UNATTENDED TACKLE WARNING

07/02/2005 - The Environment Agency is calling for anglers not to leave their tackle unattended at any time when fishing on rivers and canals.
The call comes after two of our officers found an unattended fishing rod a short distance upstream of Penarth Weir on the River Severn near Newtown, Powys.

The rod had been tied to a tree so that fish could not pull it in. Despite a search, the owner could not be traced and the fishing tackle was seized.

Unattended rods can kill fish. Birds and other wildlife can also be injured by becoming tangled in the line or being caught on the hook. It is an offence to leave a rod and line unattended and successful conviction could result in a £2500 fine.

For the Environment Agency, Andy Roberts, an Environment Agency fisheries officer, says: "The majority of anglers respect the environment but a small minority can cause problems. Leaving your tackle unattended is both highly irresponsible and dangerous.

"We will not hesitate to seize tackle we find left unattended. We publish the ‘Angling and Wildlife Golden Rules’. This sets out the correct way anglers should behave so they don’t compromise the welfare of fish and ensure that everyone can enjoy a good day’s fishing."