Operation Traverse aims to encourage anglers and the wider angling community to report suspicious activity to the Environment Agency or police.
The idea is to increase information and intelligence about those fishing illegally or suspected of being involved in offences.
Co-ordinated by the Angling Trust, police and partner agencies are joining forces to focus on illegal fishing, rod licence compliance and associated crime.
The launch of Operation Traverse in North Yorkshire follows the recent launch of the Voluntary Bailiff Service, a partnership between the Angling Trust and Environment Agency.
Funded through income from rod licence sales, volunteers have been trained to be the eyes and ears of the angling community, reporting and recording information and evidence to a high standard.
Giles Evans, the Angling Trust’s North East Regional Enforcement Manager, said: “This multi-agency operation continues to target offenders fishing illegally and committing other crimes.
“It’s hoped that this operation combined with the work of the volunteer bailiffs will increase the information and intelligence regarding illegal fishing and the linked crimes, to further help the Environment Agency and partners with their continued success in the region.”
Inspector Jon Grainge, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said: “The illegal taking of fish can have a serious impact on stocks, and we will take action to protect our fisheries.
“Anyone involved in this criminality may also be involved in anti-social behaviour and other theft and wildlife crimes in rural locations, so it’s really important that people continue to report suspicious activity to police or the Environment Agency.”
The rural taskforce will be targeting known hot spots across North Yorkshire in the coming months, including the River Esk.
A spokesperson for the Yorkshire Esk Rivers Trust, stressed the importance and need for Operation Traverse.
“In the summer of 2015, some 16 nets were removed from the tideway between Ruswarp and Whitby Harbour,” he said.
“This illegal activity is having a devastating impact on salmon and sea trout stocks entering the river and being able to reach their spawning grounds, to the extent of now posing a real threat to their future.
“Members of the public should be vigilant at all times and to report any signs of suspicious activity to either the police or the Environment Agency.”
Anyone with information about illegal fishing is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, or the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060.
