Poaching

[Frazzle]

Taken from another Kent Forum.

Be on your guard and report anythink that is not right not a few days later as it is going on you have a list of phone numbers on your membership card ring and report it. You can also ring the Police.



Guys I ask you to take this thread very seriously. Stealing fish now is becoming more widespread with people looking to make an easy pound during this recession. Cranbrook Angling society had one of their lakes netted out in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crooks left all the silver fish on the bank to die and just took the big fish with carp up to mid thirties. Needless to say the club is absolutely gutted to have one of their best fisheries ruined, the committee are devastated. We know of one individual from Kent who is paying thieves to join clubs and steal fish to order, it is a bloody nightmare, one kid has already admitted selling a carp for £200. I have passed on information to the relevant authorities but we need to be vigilant. I am enforcing the rule of sacking fish, no fish for any reason are to be put into a sack for any amount of time. Leave the fish in your landing net if you have to get a camera out or on your mat with somebody looking after it. If anyone is found or seen with a fish in a sack it will result in a ban. If you see vehicles arriving late at night or being where they shouldn't be please ring the office I don't care what time it is, remember these are fish which you are paying to fish for.

[Old-Git]

I agree, this is a very serious issue and it is becoming more frequent in our area. There are a number of unscrupulous fishery owners / managers who will buy stolen fish even though the risks of disease are high. WE know who some of these b*stards are but can't name them publicly for fear of litigation! Shame! The EA and the local police are aware of these people and have made enquiries to this effect. PC Tim Moody who is our local rural police officer and based at Cranbrook is certainly on the case so to speak and will appreciate a call if you wittness any suspicious activity or have any information relating to fish thefts. Another local club that I am a member of, suffered a series of "break ins" during the close season, fences cut etc - we are unsure whether any fish were stolen - but a truck registration number was passed onto Tim by a vigilant member and he very quickly aprehended the culprits, they came from Rochester and the truck contained tackle and bolt croppers! Tim's expolits have even had a mention in Angling Times in recent months - top guy and an angler too, so he understands our concerns. He can be contacted on 01580 711006 or 07800 675343. Maybe the committee should consider giving him a call and having a chat with him, as prevention is better than cure.

[Tony Spall]

“Fish stealing” ‘cause that’s what it is! has been going on for decades.
In those early days some of today’s well known names were involved; then it was to top up & stock theirs or friends waters, now it’s all about the money! Naturally this will attract the low life criminal element.

I see Chris has liaised with our friends at Cranbrook & D A C & collectively we have raised the reward to £1500
Hopefully more clubs will get involved. I hope to bring the subject up at the next quarterly meeting of the KFCA.

Hats off to PC Tim Moody for getting well involved in trying to sort these crimes out, but he can only take action with our help & information.
I posted his letter back in May under the topic “Fish Thefts” in the section “Latest News & Announcements”
Take note of his numbers & in “old gits” reply!

Linton has suffered in the past with thefts & vandalism, although one might have an idea who was involved it’s proving it! This is where we all can help, keep your eyes & ears open & report anything suspicious immediately!

T

[Tony Spall]

Good to see that the reward is now up to £7500!
With the recent artical in Angling Times might tempt someone?

The subject was brought up at Thursday nights KFCA meeting at the EA offices in Addington.
Tim Erskine of the EA gave a very informative talk & presentation on what steps they are taking with regard to illegal fish movements & fish stealing.
All information & intelligence they receive is logged in to their data base, they gradually get a profile on various alleged suspects & their vehicles movements etc. This helps them when the culprits are caught & they go to court. They work closely with the local police.
Any information however small & seemingly insignificant is valuable.
Speed is of course essential.
You have all our numbers, if you wish to deal with Tim directly please do so, all information is treated in the strictest of confidence.
Tim Erskine’s number is 01732-703058
Or Email: tim.erskine@environment-agency.gov.uk

T

[The Chatham Tangler]

I suppose this has already been thought of, but is micro-chipping yet an option for fish?
it would probably be logistically near impossible for existing specimens, but maybe for new stock
from the breeders, where implantation could be performed under controlled conditions?
maybe I have been watching too much spooks/bourne identity, but at some point, it must become feasible...

still, then you would get Jason stalking round the pond with headphones, an antenna, and a crafty look on his face!!!

A

[Frazzle]

If they are micro chipped the receiver would only pick them up about 10 feet away.

[Tony Spall]

The micro chips are being used successfully on fish but as Chris said has a very limited range when receiving the information/signal i.e. a few feet. Like with dogs.
So poor old Jason would be out of luck!
To pick up a signal & find their location in a lake you’d have to have some heavy gear like as in the TV programs used on Elephants or Meercats!
Mind you an interesting point I did learn at the meeting. They do take DNA samples of fish to establish their origin, weather the come from the same batch etc.

T

[timber]

on the subject of poaching, what do you think on the report in this weeks AT that gold valley caught poachers stealing a carp of 10lb and a bream then letting the cuplits go ? thoughts ?

[Tony Spall]

It happens quite a few times, speaking to EA. They’ve had what they thought of as 'a water tight case’ only to have them thrown out by CPS due to some obscure reason.
Imagine the frustration of the police when they spend months & months on cases then to get the prosecution dropped at the last minute for what appears to be no good reason.

T

[barbus59]

Happens all the time. When the CPS were invented it was the blackest day for our criminal justice system.
Name drop me to Tim Moody, he may remember me as we used to be colleagues at Dartford nick in the 80s.
Dave