Environment Agency News Release

A Gloucestershire man has been ordered to forfeit his boat and fishing equipment after being caught fishing for elvers using illegal nets and without a licence.

David Sparkes, 24, of Hardwicke, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Magistrates’ Court to two charges relating to illegal fishing for elvers on the River Severn. The charges were brought by the Environment Agency under the National Eel Fishing Byelaws 2004.

Mr Sparkes was fined £250 and ordered to pay costs of £250.  In addition to this, a Forfeit Order was made in respect of the boat and associated equipment used by Sparkes.

For the Environment Agency, Kiran Cassini told the court that the trade in elvers (or glass eels) is very lucrative, fetching up to £250 per kilogramme.

Fishing for elvers is strictly controlled to safeguard stocks of adult eels that have declined in recent years. Fishermen must obtain an Environment Agency licence and can only use hand-operated dip nets up to a certain size. The Environment Agency carries out regular inspections of the elver fishery on the River Severn, to ensure that anglers both possess a valid licence, and are operating legally in the area.

On the 21 February 2008 Environment Agency officers observed Mr Sparkes’ boat being launched from Weir Green and travel downstream.  There Mr Sparkes was observed operating two nets from his boat.  Upon inspection by Environment Agency Water Bailiffs, Mr Sparkes was found to have caught elvers, although he did not have a licence to do so.

Speaking after the case Bill Burleigh, an Environment Agency officer involved in the investigation said: “Fishing for elvers in this way is not only illegal but it is severely damaging to the eel stocks. Many elver fishermen fish legally on the River Severn, but to do so from a boat using these methods shows a total disregard for fellow fishermen, the law and the future of this species.“

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