There is a “Don’t steal, cook or kill fish” poster on the Wilsham Road railings.
Underneath there is a multi-language commentary about fishing in the UK for anglers from the flagged countries. Basically it says that all anglers need to get a licence and to know the byelaws put there to protect migratory and freshwater fish stocks from damaging fishing practices.
It might have been an idea to post an accompanying notice informing people that swans aren’t fair game.
Has there been a recent increase in fish ‘poaching’ ? If so, what consequences were there for the felon(s) ? I would rather have visitors chopping the heads off fish than of the natives.
It does make one wonder what is the point of river fishing.
Interesting choice of east European languages – is this an intelligence-lead thing or racial profiling? Wasn’t aware that there were a significant number of Russian anglers in Abingdon, although I guess this may be a result of the welfare and work rights of immigrants? Really?
Poaching, I think the Environment Agency need to be grilled about this!
I do not see a Russian flag there. The Cyrillic alphabet is used by Serbia and Bulgaria to name but a few.
I thought this was a wind up, until I checked the Town Council and EA websites. For goodness sake get reel.
Jest you may but there is a serious message in the TC’s initiative, “Abingdonians” have a right to fish the waters here given in our charter, but they need a rod licence issued by the TC for a few pence and a fishing permit issued by the E,A, the bylaw prohibits night fishing and the EA prohibits removing fish (apart from crayfish) but our foreign fishermen (and women) have no TC licence nor an EA permit and that sits very uncomfortable with our local fishermen. What’s more the local fishermen take great care to protect fish stock by careful handling and to always return the fish they catch, over the years the Thames here has built up a good stock of very large (30 pound ) Carp which our fishermen take much pride and care over, unlike their foreign counterparts who put the straight in their back pack for diner! But the big fishey sting is the local restaurant owner who can be frequently seen fishing for, and taking home, pike, carp and bream ! Very tasty so I’m told ! Keep up the good work TC !
And how will this be policed?
Yes are there going to be on the spot fines? Court orders are useless as they do not turn up at court. Also mmigration officers are not allowed to chase suspected illegal workers if they flee during a raid. They are also powerless if other suspects who are discovered during a swoop refuse to answer questions and want to leave.
Here we go again – what’s this got to do with illegal migration? All of the flags above are from EU nations!
As Steve says above, it has far more to do with the fact that people in some other countries have a taste for carp.
No one answered t he question Ian. What penalties are there if someone fishes and takes the fish home to eat and who polices it?
Hi Janet, I think the TC are doing their best to be PC here, they realise there is a problem here, but they also realise that the problem may be one of ignorance rather then intentionally breaking the law. Their first approach is to be PC and appeal to their better nature, however, if that falls on deaf ears they will take action and prosecute the offenders, as for policing, they have a fishery inspector and he is perfectly aware of who the culprits are ( he lives local and is always patrolling the water courses) so they will sort the problem out, after they’ve gone down the PC route
Thanks Captainkaos2 for some common sense. I was not being awkward I was genuinely interested as I did not know the answer.