Crime Solicitors

The Environment Agency has said it is clamping down on illegal sales of wild salmon and sea trout, by targeting restaurants, hotels, pubs and fishmongers in Yorkshire.

Fisheries enforcement officers are visiting food businesses to check coolers, freezers and fish storage facilities – as well as giving advice on how to spot wild salmon and sea trout that have been caught illegally.

Bailiffs are also patrolling rivers and coastal areas, overtly and covertly, to target illegal fishing.

Anyone caught illegally fishing or in possession of illegally caught fish will face prosecution and a substantial fine.

Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officers have removed and seized illegal nets from the River Esk Tideway – the enforcement campaign aims to protect wild salmonid populations put at risk by illegal fishing.

The operation covers the Yorkshire coast, with a particular focus on the Esk catchment area in North Yorkshire.

Team leader at the Environment Agency, Paul Slater, said:

“We are determined to stop the illegal fishing and trade of salmon and sea trout because these activities have a terrible impact on fish populations.

“Legitimate netsmen sell wild salmon and sea trout with an Environment Agency tag attached to the carcass – if this is not present, then you may be handling illegally caught fish and you may be liable for prosecution.

“Other tell-tale signs are apparent on the fish carcasses themselves – any spear of gaff wounds, or snare or gill net marks on a salmonid can indicate that a fish has been caught illegally.”

The Environment Agency advises that wild salmon and sea trout that have been caught legitimately must possess an Environment Agency tag that identifies the source of the fish – this tag must remain attached until a fish is processed.

Salmon or sea trout caught by rod and line will not be tagged, because it is illegal to handle, buy or sell salmonids caught this way. It is also illegal to handle these fish if it is suspected they might have been taken during the close season.

Salmonids cannot be sold or bought if they are “unclean” – a term used to describe a fish that is about to spawn or has recently spawned. Unclean fish can be dark in colour with red spots on their gill covers.

Those handling farmed or imported net-caught fish, which do not require tags, are advised to ask the seller for a signed receipt which shows the seller’s name and address and details of when and where the fish were caught.

Wild salmon or sea trout suspected to have been rod caught, illegally caught, or which are unclean, this should be reported to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 807060.

Anyone who spots illegal fishing should also report the information to the hotline.

More information on fishing byelaws and to find out the close season in different areas is available at the Environment Agency website.

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise companies and individuals at any stage of a charge involving environmental offences – including advising during an investigation and before charges are brought on allegations of fisheries offences, fly tipping, failing to manage hazardous waste and/or waste carrier offences, water pollution, noise pollution or air pollution, or misuse of permitted land.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and our environmental crime lawyers can attend interviews with investigating authorities, as well as negotiating with the Environment Agency and local authorities.

For expert legal advice on environmental offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.