24-Aug-2012
Two men from Ilford in Essex have each been fined a total of £500 for fishing during the close season and using live bait.
Cambridge Magistrates’ Court heard today (Thursday) that Costel Stratult and Dragos Nechita were found fishing on the River Great Ouse at Queen Adelaide, near Ely, by an Environment Agency Enforcement Officer.
Miriam Tordoff, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, said both men from Repton Grove, Ilford had valid rod licences but were fishing during the annual close season which runs from 15 March – 15 June and is in place to protect fisheries and ensure fish have a chance to spawn successfully. They were each fined £100 for fishing out of season and ordered to pay £125 costs.
Mrs Tordoff said the officer searched their fishing equipment and found a box with five live carp in it and each rod had a live carp on its hook in the river. She said Stratult and Nechita confirmed they had bought the fish in London and were using them as live bait. They were each fined £400 for the offence.
Mrs Tordoff explained that Nechita then tried to tip the fish into the river but was prevented from doing so and the fish were seized with consent.
After the hearing Lesley Robertson, Environmental Crime Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said: “Illegal fish movements or using live fish from other waters as bait increases the risk of spreading disease. The byelaws are in place to protect fish and fisheries and it is important that we take action against those who break the byelaws.”
Costel Stratult pleaded guilty to:
1. On 7 April 2012 at the River Great Ouse north of Queen Adelaide, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4UG you fished for freshwater fish during the annual close season for such fish.
Contrary to Byelaw 6 of the Fisheries Byelaws made, published and confirmed on 23 March 2010 pursuant to section 210 and schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and liable to the penalty set out in section 211(3)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
2. On 7 April 2012 you used live fish for bait at the River Great Ouse north of Queen Adelaide, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4UG not being the water from which they were taken.
Contrary to Byelaw 8 of the Fisheries Byelaws made, published and confirmed on 26 May 2001 pursuant to section 210 and schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and liable to the penalty set out in section 211(3)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
Dragos Nechita pleaded guilty to:
1. On 7 April 2012 at the River Great Ouse north of Queen Adelaide, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4UG you fished for freshwater fish during the annual close season for such fish.
Contrary to Byelaw 6 of the Fisheries Byelaws made, published and confirmed on 23 March 2010 pursuant to section 210 and schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and liable to the penalty set out in section 211(3)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
2. On 7 April 2012 you used live fish for bait at the River Great Ouse north of Queen Adelaide, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4UG not being the water from which they were taken.
Contrary to Byelaw 8 of the Fisheries Byelaws made, published and confirmed on 26 May 2001 pursuant to section 210 and schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and liable to the penalty set out in section 211(3)(b) of the Water Resources Act 1991.