Magistrates in Bridgwater served a twelve month conditionaldischarge on the pair and ordered each man to pay £55 costs.
In December last year the two men, owners of the SummerhayesFishery at Bridgwater, put around 800lb of carp into one of theirfishing lakes. They had come from another lake in Somerset.
Environment Agency authorisation is required to move and stock anytype of freshwater fish from one water location to another.
The Agency screens and assesses the movement of freshwater fish inorder to minimise the risk of ecological damage from fish diseases,or from the stocking of inappropriate fish numbers or fish species.
Bridgwater Magistrates today heard Michael Long of Oxford Street,Burnham on Sea and Brian Webb of Knoll View, Highbridge plead guiltyto introducing fish to inland waters without the consent of theEnvironment Agency contrary to Section 30 of the Salmon andFreshwater Fisheries Act 1975, as amended by Section 34 of the SalmonAct 1986.
Both men were given 12 month conditional discharges and ordered topay £55 costs.
“It is essential for fishery owners to check in with the Agencybefore they move any fish stock,” said Steve Thomas for theEnvironment Agency.
“Without the monitoring and control of fish movements across thecountry there are increased risks of fish diseases travellingunchecked from fishery to fishery with the potential to wipe outthousands of fish. I would urge all fishery owners and managers toensure all movements are authorised to ensure the safety of theirvaluable stock.”
