The UK’s leading coarse fish farm was ordered to pay over £ 5,000 on Monday, 17 January, 2005, for the attempted illegal introduction of fish into Jubilee Lake and Long Lake at Thatcham, Berkshire on 23 March, 2004.
Riverfield Fish Farm Ltd, of Marden, Kent, pleaded guilty to two offences of attempting to introduce fish without a valid consent, contrary to Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. It was fined £ 1,500 for each offence and ordered to pay costs of £ 2,239.60.
Fish movements into and within the UK are strictly controlled to protect native species and habitats from the potentially devastating effects of alien species. Legislation is also in place to ensure diseased fish cannot spread infection by being transferred from one body of water to another thereby putting the local environment at risk.
Newbury Magistrates’ Court heard that the Thatcham Angling Association had ordered a consignment of Bream from Riverfield Fish Farm Limited, to restock Jubilee and Long Lakes, both of which it owns.
Riverfield Fish Farm applied for a consent to introduce the fish into both lakes. The fish were of two different size categories, 5-15cm in length, and 15-25cm. Each requires a different level of information about the health of the fish to be submitted with the consent application. Riverfield Fish Farm only supplied the required level of information for the 15-25cm category, so a conditional consent only allowing the introduction of fish over 15cm was issued.
On 23 March, 2004 a truck from Riverfield Fish Farm arrived at Long Lake towing a trailer containing fish. Environment Agency officers were on hand to undertake an audit and ensure the species and size of the fish intended for Thathcam Angling Association were consistent with the consent issued.
On inspection the majority were found to be less than 15cms in length. The truck driver was advised that the fish could not be delivered, should be returned, and that a sample was being seized as evidence. The driver telephoned Simon Hughes, owner and Managing Director of Riverfield Fish Farm. He asked to speak to the Environment Agency officers and objected strongly to the action they were taking. Despite this, the delivery was refused and a sample of fish taken for laboratory analysis.
The court heard that the laboratory report showed over half the sample to be infected with the parasite Paraergasilus longidigitus. If this had been reported in the original consent application it would have been refused on that basis. The report also identified Bleak and Roach in the sample, neither of which were included in the consent.
The court accepted that Riverfield Fish Farm would have benefited financially if the delivery had not been intercepted.
“With over 30 years’ experience, there’s really no excuse for Riverfield Fish Farm’s actions on this occasion,” said Dennis Welling, fisheries enforcement officer for the Environment Agency. “They know full well the importance of the controls on fish movements, and the crucial role they play in protecting our indigenous species and habitats, and in protecting legitimate businesses like theirs from cowboy traders.
“They must also be aware of the impact Paraergasilus longidigitus can have. By attaching itself to the host’s nasal cavity, it can impair their sense of smell, making it harder for them to find food or a mate. The wounds caused by the parasite can also become infected. In extreme cases its presence can cause death. If these fish had been introduced into Jubilee and Long Lakes, they could easily have infected the fish community in the adjoining Thatcham Reed Beds, an internationally recognised Site of Special Scientific Interest.
“By attempting to put these fish into Jubilee and Long Lakes, the company has acted unprofessionally and with irresponsible negligence, and I hope the fines imposed today ensure there are no such lapses in the future.”
