Congratulations to the Lancashire Police and the EA

Poacher must pay £2,500

A Lancashire man has been fined £1,400 and ordered to pay £1,100 in costs after pleading guilty to poaching offences, at Lancaster Magistrates Court yesterday (30 October 2008).

In the early hours of 17 June, 2008, Glen Bennett, 48, of Nelson, was discovered by Lancashire Police at his home on Thursby Road, with 25 freshwater fish (salmonoids) trapped in a large net. Bennett appeared to be removing the fish from the net and from a number of plastic bags, officers also spotted a deflated dinghy in his front garden.

When questioned by officers at the scene, Bennett claimed to have taken the fish from the sea at Heysham, but on further questioning, he later admitted to having poached them from the Lune Estuary. Bennett also admitted to not having a licence to fish.

Richard McIlwain, Fisheries Team Leader for Lancashire said: “The removal of 25 fish from the Lune Estuary could have had a huge impact on fish stocks. If half the fish were female, there would potentially be a net loss to the river of around 60,000 salmon eggs.”

“A Considerable time, effort and money has been spent on improving the fishery on the Lune, and for somebody to come along and just help themselves could have caused major set backs both ecologically and financially. Any re-stocking works will bring about considerable costs.”

“This is a significant case for the Environment Agency and we are satisfied with the result, let this be a warning to those who think poaching pays.”

Duncan Thomas, Lancashire Police Wildlife officer adds: “This is a classic example of successful partnership work between the Police and the Environment Agency, we are very happy with the conviction and sentence, and hope this sends a very clear message to poachers - that we are targeting them.

We believe the fish would have been sold on for financial gain, so this fine will go a long way to redress the balance.”

During a formal interview with Environment Agency officers on 21 July, 08, Bennett responded to questioning with a ‘no comment’ response throughout. At the time of this incident Bennett was already on police bail in relation to offences of deception.

Charges:

1 That on or before the 17 June 2008, Mr. Bennett used an unauthorized fixed engine, namely a fishing net in inland or tidal waters to take freshwater fish, Contrary to Section 6(1) of The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975

2 That on or before the 17 June 2008 Mr. Bennett did fish for or take fish from regulated waters by using an instrument he was not entitled to use as he had no licence for that instrument, Contrary to Section 27 (a) of The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

3 That on or before the 17 June 2008 you received a salmon or assisted in its retention, removal or disposal of the salmon by or for the benefit of another person when you believed or it was reasonable for you to believe that an offence had been committed in relation to the salmon, Contrary to Section 32 (1) Salmon Act 1986.

The Environment Agency is currently running an anti-poaching campaign in conjunction with Lancashire Police, on the Ribble Catchment. CCTV surveillance equipment has been installed at various spots along the River Ribble, to catch out poachers.

Anyone with information about poaching activity should contact the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60

I feel this is great news for everyone, though I would like to have seen a custodial sentence. Well done to everyone involved.