Campaign by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) raises awareness about poaching
There are a number of illegal activities that can have a detrimental effect on fish stocks, and partner organisations want to help the public identify these activities through the launch of a new leaflet.
Following a meeting with The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Fin (fish poaching), the group is pleased to launch a new leaflet.
The leaflet will provide information on fish poaching, what to look out for and who to contact if something appears to be suspicious to any member of the public.
Seamus Cullinan, Director of Conservation and Protection at Loughs Agency said: “The face-to-face reconvening of the PAW Fin group for the first time in three years is a positive step forward.
“I am delighted to assume the role of joint chair alongside my DAERA colleague, Art Niven.
“Wildlife crime has been and continues to be a worrying trend in and around our catchment areas.
“Illegal activities can lead to pollution and have an adverse impact on fish stocks.
“It has never been more important to ensure the public is aware of fishing regulations and the reporting mechanisms available.
“All of the bodies involved are hopeful that the launch of the ‘Watch out for Wildlife Crime’ leaflet will reinforce the message that illegal activity will not be tolerated in any capacity.”
Arthur Niven, Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer from DAERA added: “The Partnership Against Wildlife crime Fin Group provides an important platform from which to engage with statutory and non-statutory partners dedicated to the conservation and protection of our fisheries resources.”
Emma Meredith, the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Wildlife Officer said: “I was delighted to meet with The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Fin group.
“It was the first time since 2020 it has met. As a partnership, we are very keen to re-invigorate the group.
“As a police service, we take all wildlife crime extremely seriously and we are encouraging the public to be more aware of illegal fish poaching across Northern Ireland.
“The informative leaflet will help raise public awareness of what illegal fish poaching is and how we can help prevent it from happening in areas where we live and who it should be reported to.
“We are delighted to be involved in this partnership against wildlife crime group and we very much support our colleagues in Loughs Agency and DAERA on the work they do.”
The aforementioned leaflet can be found via this link:
Poaching is often associated with game fish such as salmon, sea trout and brown trout.
But increasingly, particularly foreign anglers who may not understand local angling laws or who choose to flout them, are seen actively taking coarse fish such as pike from the rivers and loughs gradually reducing the biomass of the fish stock over a number of seasons.
The leaflet will go a long way to communicate this to anglers generally who may simply not understand the rules.
