SEVERE fines and penalties will be the punishment for anyone who is caught poaching salmon and sea trout now that the fishing season has finished.
That is the straight-talking warning issued today by the government after the season closed to anglers on Monday this week.
Anyone caught taking salmon, and anyone who buys the fish, is taking the risk of heavy fines, confiscation of vehicles and possibly a prison sentence.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture said today that this is “a clear message” that salmon and sea trout stocks need to be protected and that they are prepared to prosecute anyone who breaks the law.
“Illegal fishing methods in rivers will not be tolerated,” DEFA said in today’s statement. “Any person found to be engaged in poaching activity or in the handling, buying, selling of, or in possession of, illegally caught salmon or sea trout will face prosecution.”
Heavy rain in recent weeks mean that the Isle of Man’s rivers have seen good numbers of salmon and sea trout travelling upstream on the way to spawning grounds in the higher reaches of the Neb, Sulby, Dhoo and Douglas rivers.
Many fish have been caught during October, including reports of a number of large salmon up to 14lbs, but the majority of anglers know that stocks have been in decline in recent years, possibly approaching dangerously low levels.
Even during the fishing season poachers all over the Island use illegal methods of catching salmon, including netting, snares and ‘snatching’. Much of the illegal activity happens in the hours of darkness, leading some anglers to suggest that a “fishing curfew” should be adopted in the future, making it an offence to fish the rivers after a certain time at night.
A number of volunteer and paid “river bailiffs” are in action during the latter part of the fishing season, but with many miles of riverbank to cover it leaves vast sections at the mercy of poachers.
The bailiffs also find their job made difficult by the legal implications of prosecuting a poacher unless they are actually “caught in the act” of illegal activities. Simply having a salmon in your possession - even if it has been caught illegally - is technically not an offence.
Most successful prosecutions in the past have only been made when the poacher is caught “red handed” in the act of removing salmon or sea trout from the water.
Imposing a “fishing curfew” in the hours of darkness would make it an offence to be found with fishing tackle at a riverbank and many anglers believe this would be a strong deterrent, if the penalties were harsh enough.
From November through to January the Isle of Man’s three main rivers have good numbers of adult salmon and sea trout heading up Manx rivers to spawn. The eggs they produce will be the future salmon in Manx rivers and the fishing close season is in place to allow these fish maximum opportunity to spawn without damage or disturbance.
DEFA said, “Any type of illegal fishing activity will reduce the number of these valuable fish available for successful spawning, which means fewer eggs to continue future generations of Manx salmon.
“Members of the public are being asked to support the Department in its efforts to protect Manx fish stocks and keep a look out for any suspicious activity occurring on the rivers, especially during the hours of darkness.”
At the same time DEFA has warned hotels, restaurants and public houses not to accept any fish offered to them for sale via ‘the back door’.
“Not only is it now illegal for anglers to sell freshwater fish captured by rod and line, it is likely that any such fish have been taken by illegal means and the penalties associated with the dealing in unlawfully captured fish are severe.”
Any suspicious activities should be reported to the Fisheries Directorate as soon as possible on 01624 685857 or email fisheries@gov.im.
