OFFICERS SEIZE ILLEGAL NET AND OTHER FISHING GEAR FROM WESTWARD HO!

Officers Seize illegal Net and Other Fishing Gear From Westward Ho, according to an article published on the Devon and Severn IFCA Website.

On Bank Holiday Friday the 8^th May 2020, D&S IFCA were informed of an illegal net in a gully near Westward Ho!  Due to the time of the report and the incoming tide it was not possible for officers to attend that same day.  Plans were made and put in place for the following day to conduct a shore patrol and attempt to seize the net.  Plans were made with assistance of the Environment Agency.  At all times officers adhered to social distancing in accordance with the Government’s Covid-19 pandemic guidelines.

D&S IFCA are pleased to report that a fixed net approximately 50 meters long was seized on Saturday 9^th May 2020 along with a long line and two prawn pots all illegally set in the same area known locally as Mermaid Pool.

The area where the net was set was just outside the closing line for the River Taw and River Torridge.  Landward of the closing line only a seine net can be used to catch sand eel as per section 3.2 of the Netting Permit Byelaw.  Where the net was set is still restricted as per section 3.4 of the Netting Permit Byelaw.  This states that the headline of a fixed net must be set at least 3 meters below the surface of the water at any state of the tide.