04/05/2005 - Poaching
one trout from Houselop Beck cost two County
Durham men £400 each today at Bishop
Auckland Magistrate’s Court.
Robert William Chappell (22) of Hill View,
Esh Winning and David John Thomas Jordan (21)
of Cypress Park, Esh Winning were both charged
with having a fish which was about to or had
recently spawned. In addition, Chappell was
charged with using a gaff for poaching fish
and Jordan charged with using a light for
poaching fish.
Both men were fined £150 and ordered
to pay costs of £250 each to the Environment
Agency, which brought the case.
Ruth Rochester, prosecuting for the Environment
Agency, told the court that the Tow Law area
is well known for poaching and the Environment
Agency had a number of officers undertaking
surveillance in the area on the night in question,
10 November 2004. The area is also an important
breeding (spawning) area for migratory fish,
especially sea trout.
Fisheries special enforcement officers saw
the two men on the banks of Houselop Burn,
a tributary of the River Wear. Jordan had
a powerful lamp which he shone onto the water
and Chappell carried a gaff – a long-handled
metal pole with a large, sharp hook on the
end.
The officers saw Chappell thrust the gaff
into the water and take out a sea trout. The
two men then headed off downstream making
further attempts to catch fish with the gaff.
Both men were arrested by the Environment
Agency officers at the scene and the lamp,
gaff and one trout were confiscated. During
an interview at the local police station the
men admitted taking the fish and using the
lamp and gaff.
In mitigation, both defendants said they
were sorry and wouldn’t do it again.
Speaking after the hearing, senior special
enforcement officer David Shears said: "When
this case happened is a crucial time of year
for migratory fish breeding, and removing
even one fish can rob the river of hundreds
more in lost eggs.
"We know the methods poachers use and
where they will be, and carry out targeted
operations like this that never fail to get
results.
"Poachers should know that they cannot
get away with it and the case today shows
that the courts also take this seriously."
