The Environment Agency is warning people who illegally catch sea trout to throw the fish back into the water after the prosecution of an East Sussex man.
Andrew David Gillam of Telscombe Cliffs Way, Telscombe Cliffs East Sussex, pleaded guilty to the offence. He was fined £50 and ordered to pay costs of £150 by Brighton Magistrates Court.
The wild sea trout population is at risk in Sussex. The Environment Agency has not issued any licences permitting the fishing of sea trout with any type of net in an attempt to protect dwindling stocks. All net caught Sea Trout must be returned back into the sea whether dead or alive.
On 3 November 2006, Environment Agency officers were undertaking a patrol at sea with the Marine and Fisheries Agency when they approached a fishing vessel about three quarters of a mile south of Saltdean. As the patrol boat pulled alongside the vessel officers noticed a sea trout weighing approximately 2kg on the deck of the boat.
In an interview under caution, Andrew David Gillam said that he didn’t fish for Sea trout but confirmed that he had caught the sea trout in a net that day. When asked whether he knew he was not permitted to keep it, he said yes, but because it was dead he was going to take it home to eat it. He did say that he would have thrown it back if it had been alive.
Mark Bennett, Environment Agency Fisheries Officer, said: “Sadly wild sea trout are in decline. In Sussex we have been working hard to address this by increasing the availability of spawning habitat, providing fish passes and through the removal of structures that block their migration to our rivers.
“We urge Sussex anglers to support our work and take these laws seriously. Unless they have an appropriate licence they must throw back any sea trout they catch, whether alive or dead. We do regular patrols so anyone not abiding by the laws is in danger of being caught and it’s not worth the risk. This one fish has cost Andrew David Gillam £200 – I hope this is a lesson to others.â€
The officers seized the fish under powers provided in the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. The court awarded forfeiture of the fish to the Environment Agency.
