On 12 March 2012, Phillip Danter, 59, of Queens Road, Tewkesbury was found guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court of illegally fishing for salmon on the River Severn at Tewkesbury.
He was fined £50, plus costs of £428 and ordered to pay a £15 victim support surcharge.
The court heard that on 30 June 2011, an Environment Agency bailiff saw Mr Danter fishing for salmon within a restricted area close to the weir. He was offered a formal caution but turned this down.
Mr Danter claimed in court he was not the angler concerned, but after hearing evidence from the Environment Agency he was found guilty.
After the court hearing, Enforcement Officer Matt Heeps said “Byelaws exist to protect salmon that lie close to weirs as they pause on their upstream migration. Fishing close to a weir is not only unlawful and unsporting, it can seriously damage salmon stocks which are already under threat.”
Illegal fishing can be reported to the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 80 70 60. You can also report illegal fishing and any other information on environmental crime, anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
He was fined £50, plus costs of £428 and ordered to pay a £15 victim support surcharge.
The court heard that on 30 June 2011, an Environment Agency bailiff saw Mr Danter fishing for salmon within a restricted area close to the weir. He was offered a formal caution but turned this down.
Mr Danter claimed in court he was not the angler concerned, but after hearing evidence from the Environment Agency he was found guilty.
After the court hearing, Enforcement Officer Matt Heeps said “Byelaws exist to protect salmon that lie close to weirs as they pause on their upstream migration. Fishing close to a weir is not only unlawful and unsporting, it can seriously damage salmon stocks which are already under threat.”
Illegal fishing can be reported to the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 80 70 60. You can also report illegal fishing and any other information on environmental crime, anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.