'Welch Poaching must be stamped out'

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'Welch Poaching must be stamped out'

By Tryst Williams
7/26/2006

Wales, U.K. - POACHING could soon lead to a fishing crisis on the nation's rivers and hit the Welsh tourism industry in the pocket, according to warnings from politicians and anglers.
Conservative Assembly Members Alun Cairns and Mark Isherwood have led calls for the Assembly to spend more money on tackling the problem.

Poachers are said to be targeting lucrative catches of salmon and trout. It is feared, if the situation continues unchecked, it could hit Wales's fishing tourism industry, which nets more than 760,000 visitors each year, adding more than £76m to the economy.

Mr Cairns, AM for South Wales West, said, "The poaching of salmon and trout, two of our most precious natural resources, is threatening our fish stocks and the Welsh rural economy.

"Environment and Countryside Minister Carwyn Jones must make more funding available so Environment Agency Wales can take immediate action to safeguard our salmon and trout populations.


"Angling is vitally important to the Welsh rural economy.


"EAW must be given the funding it needs to stamp out poaching for good and before it is too late.


"Illegal fishing is on the increase and it's having an untold impact on our rural economy and a devastating impact on one of Wales's most valuable resources. Action must be taken now to stop the rot."


He claimed the number of fisheries enforcement officers - bailiffs - patrolling the Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot region had fallen from 12 to zero over recent years and the situation threatened such major rivers as the Ogmore, Afan, Neath and Tawe.


Mr Cairns and Mr Isherwood, AM for North Wales, both called for more funds to be made available to the EAW. Their views were backed by fishing clubs such as Llanelli Angling Association, which said they had noticed a rise in poaching and a decline in the number of bailiffs.


Association secretary David Watkins said, "In the Towy catchment area, which is the main sea trout area of Wales, there's one full-time bailiff covering everything from St Clears to Loughor.


"There used to be three or four only on the Towy and, when you fished, you would always see one who would come and sign your licence. Now you don't see one.


"I haven't come across bailiffs on the Towy for the best part of five or six years and the poachers know this. Gangs have come down from Hereford and net the rivers and sell the fish after getting a good haul.


"The other sore point is the cost of the salmon licence - £60 - and you don't see much return on it."


Mr Watkins said there had been a particular rise in the number of "belligerent" youths turning to poaching and pointed out the problem was not confined to rivers.


On the reservoir his club stocks with £11,500 of fish a year, he recently came across a gang netting fish at 3.50am.


The Assembly yesterday played down the scale of the problem and claimed much of the Environment Agency's anti-poaching efforts were being carried out covertly.


A spokesman said, "Protection of fish stocks from poaching is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. To make the best use of available resources, the agency takes a targeted, intelligence-led approach. These operations are often undercover and not, therefore, visible to the public.
"In recent years stocks of salmon and sea trout have been in decline and poaching efforts have therefore reduced.
"However, the necessary level of resources to protect the stocks is consistently kept under review."