Night patrols underway in North Wales to deter Christmas poachers

This time of year is peak season for illegal fishing

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Andrew ForgraveCountryside and tourism editor

15:17, 30 NOV 2023

An NRW enforcement officer patrols a North Wales river with a rural crime officer (Image: NRW)

River patrols are being stepped up across North Wales amid concerns salmon is being poached in the run-up to Christmas. Police and enforcement officers will be out at night this month to keep an eye out for illicit riverbank activities.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said its officers will be double-crewing police vehicles to provide a high visibility presence on the region’s roads and rivers. Illegal poaching can have a devastating impact on fish populations, particularly during the salmon and trout spawning season from November to January.

The public are also being urged to shop potential poachers. Former water bailiffs have periodically warned about systematic poaching following declines in riverbank surveillance: at one time 79 bailiffs operated across Wales.

Last year a Ceredigion poaching gang admitted illegal fishing on an industrial scale. Records showed that over seven years they landed 989 sea trout and 302 salmon. Between 2013-2020, their activities caused the estimated loss of 686,534 salmon eggs and 2.28m sea trout eggs.

Rhys Ellis, NRW’s environment team leader, said even small-scale poaching can harm fish stocks. “Any offences can affect the populations for years to come,” he said. “It can also impact the angling industry, which is worth millions of pounds to the Welsh economy every year.”

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NRW Enforcement Teams from western and eastern North Wales will be teaming up with officers from the North Wales Police (NWP) rural crime team. They hope their presence at key sites will have a deterrent effect on illicit fishing during the festive period.

Fish caught using the 'cruel' and illegal method known as foul hooking (Image: NRW)

NRW said continued declines in Welsh salmon and sea trout stocks are a serious concern. Latest figures show that stocks in 21 of the 23 main salmon rivers in Wales are now at risk. Of the 33 main sea trout rivers, only four are deemed not to be vulnerable.

In 2021, Wales recorded the lowest catches of both salmon and sea trout (Sewin) since consistent records began in the 1970s. The following year, with stocks dwindling, poaching incidents fell slightly.

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In 2022, NRW dealt with 197 illegal fishing reports and 70 incidents of fish kills. Together with illegal cockling, this amounted to 306 fisheries incidents, down from 321 in 2021, and 338 in 2020.

Sgt Peter Evans, of NWP rural crime team, said: “Collaboration on evening proactive patrols is vital. By working together, we can target those set out on committing rural crime. I would also ask the public to be vigilant, keep your eyes peeled and inform the team if you come across such an incident.”