Francesca
Glyn-Jones - 13-Oct-2006 - The Environment Agency
will make a new addition to its fight against
fish crime next week, when the ‘Shearwater’ enforcement
boat is officially named by Sir John Harman, chairman
of the Environment Agency.
The new enforcement boat will
operate up to six miles offshore between Berwick-upon-Tweed
and the Humber, and will also cover all tidal
rivers in its patrols to protect stocks of salmon
and sea trout.
Named after the offshore seabird,
the Shearwater replaces the former ‘Hurricane’
enforcement boat, which was proving to be too
small to hold necessary equipment that the job
entails. The new larger boat also means that it
can remain at sea for longer periods and can hold
more crew.
The boat will be primarily used
to police the licensed salmon fishery off the
east coast and tackle poaching of salmon and sea
trout, but will also aid marine monitoring and
survey work.
Shearwater is a 7.6 metre rigid
inflatable boat, manufactured by Avon inflatables
in South Wales. These boats are also used nationally
by police forces, search and rescue, law enforcement
and coastguards.
Philip Swaile, special enforcement
officer at the Environment Agency said: "Poaching
on rivers can have a massive impact on the actual
number of salmon and sea trout that return each
year to spawn so this new enforcement boat is
essential to our work to protect the region’s
rivers and wildlife.
"We have equipped the boat
with state-of-the-art radar and will be able to
respond rapidly to reports of illegal fishing
as well as carrying out routine patrols. Our message
is clear -poachers beware - we will catch you
if you are fishing illegally."
The enforcement boat will be
officially christened with spring water from the
source of the Tyne on Wednesday 18 October on
The Quayside, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Prosecutions for serious fishing
crimes have more than doubled in the last four
years in England and Wales, with 79 cases in 2005/06
bringing almost £60,000 in fines and court
costs.
If members of the public have
information about any possible incidents of illegal
fishing, they are requested to phone the Environment
Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline in confidence
on 0800 807060.
Sir John Harman is on Tyneside
to address the 15th International Salmonid Conference
which has been organised by the Association of
Rivers Trusts at the Baltic Arts Centre on October
17-20.
Notes to editors:
‘Shearwater’ statistics
Overall Length: 7.6 metres
Weight: 299lbs or 1954kg
Engine size: 2 X 150HP
Maximum speed: 50 knots
Range: 350 nautical miles
Capacity: 4 Crew
Fisheries enforcement - the
facts:
Currently more than 200 Environment
Agency officers undertake fisheries enforcement
work across England and Wales in an effort to
stop poachers taking fish illegally;
Our water bailiffs use the latest methods, equipment
and technology - including remote surveillance,
infrared and video cameras, forensic investigation
and are trained in surveillance, apprehension
and arrest procedures. They spend many hours monitoring
rivers and tackling illegal restockings, and illegal
fishing in an effort to ensure stocks of fish
- such as salmon, sea trout, freshwater fish and
eels - remain strong;
Fines for illegal fishing in Magistrates Courts
are up to £2500. This increases for cases
taken to the Crown Court that can also result
in imprisonment and fines of up to £50,000;
Illegal fishing includes:
attempting to take fish in prohibited
periods and areas;
using gaffs, lights, poisons, guns;
foul hooking of fish; and using unlicensed instruments
including nets
