"imported" fish

[Guest Andy Thatcher]

Tough subject that is getting more publicity due to Ian Chilcott & ECHO.

 

I can see Steve's perspective and if I was a fishery owner I'd go to the same lengths as him to protect my stock. I have seen fish kills on club waters and know the devastating feeling I felt, to see that as an owner must be awful and worth avoiding at any cost.

 

Carp are a introduced species. The carp held in the highest regard are probably the Leney strain introduced into Redmire, Billing, Savay, Frensham etc by Donald Leney. These where imported from Holland and play a huge part in carping history. Would carp fishing have the popularity it has now without these fish ? Everyone that has an interest in carp would have seen Chris Yates with that gorgeous, incidently, record mirror or Dick Walker with Clarissa. Imported yes but they changed the face of angling in the UK.

 

So where does this leave me after this diatribe ?

 

To import large carp or cats chuck it in a lake fish until you catch it is unjustifiable. I am convinced that this has happened to record weights whether legal or illegal it beggars belief what some people will do for their 5 minutes of fame and fortune. Greed folks is the bottom line here.

 

A small fish legally imported then naturally grown up to a large size, as the Leney fish, is not a problem. Under the provision that they do not infect the existing stock. If this is not possible then ban imports.

 

Please don't get me started on imported barbel Lyn. The thought that people would disgrace themselves with this most graceful of species is beyond my comprehension but not my utter abhorrence.

 

Cheers

Andy