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Crime Solicitors

Conditional Discharge for illegal fishing and obstructing an Environment Agency officer (22 August 2016)

Date: 22/08/2016
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Conditional Discharge for illegal fishing and obstructing an Environment Agency officer

The Environment Agency has prosecuted a man from Birmingham after he was caught using an illegal method while fishing.

Jen Mun Lin of Sparkhill in Birmingham was caught by officers from the Environment Agency during a routine patrol on 2 December 2015.

On 15 August 2016 at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court, Lin pleaded guilty to one charge of fishing using an illegal method – and also pleaded guilty to intentionally obstructing an authorised fisheries enforcement officer during the prosecution.

He was made the subject of a two-year Conditional Discharge, ordered to pay £235 in costs, with a £15 victim surcharge.

The court heard that, on 2 December 2015, Lin was observed on the Gloucester Sharpness Canal by an Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, where he was pulling set fishing lines from the water.

He then put the lines into a plastic bag he was carrying.

The officer approached Mr Lin and asked him to open the carrier bag. Inside, the bag the officer saw a number of mono lines, hooks and a pair of scissors.

Set lines are an illegal method of fishing because the present significant welfare issues for not only fish, but other wildlife, including waterfowl and animals, such as otters. If a fish or other animal becomes hooked on the lines, they can suffer for many hours or even days.

A discussion then took place during which Lin was cautioned by the officer and asked to provide his details so that the offence could be reported.

Lin initially refused to provide the details, but after the officer enlisted the assistance of a translator to support the discussion, he eventually provided his driving licence to prove his identity.

After the hearing, Stuart Gamble from the Environment Agency said:

“The use of set lines is a particularly barbaric poaching method that can cause significant suffering to fish and animals.

“The vast majority of fish will either die or will be killed by the poacher. This takes away fish stocks that would otherwise be enjoyed by legitimate anglers.

“We track criminals on an intelligence led basis, using information gathered by ourselves, partner organisations and reports from the public. We urge anyone to report illegal fishing as quickly as possible by calling our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving environmental offences, including fly-tipping, failing to manage hazardous waste, waste carrier offences, misuse of permitted land, fisheries offences, or water, air or land pollution.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and more than 20 offices across London and the southeast – and a Duncan Lewis criminal lawyer can advise both companies and individuals at the start of an investigation and before environmental charges are brought, as well as attending court.

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

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.


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