In Or on the Following Named Lakes: - Windermere, (And Several Further Named Lakes)

Windermere Enforcement Report

WLUF

Fishing on Windermere is regulated by use of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. Under Section 25 of this Act, the Environment Agency regulates fishing by a system of licensing when fishing for Salmon, Trout, Freshwater fish or Eels, in all waters in England and Wales. The Environment Agency also manage, protect and conserve fisheries in England through National and Regional Byelaws, North West Regional Byelaw 18 (1) (2) Baiting states,

In or on the following named lakes: - Windermere, (and several further named lakes)

(1)

(a)Use of any dead or alive freshwater fish, salmonids or eels as bait is prohibited; and

(b)Possession of any live freshwater fish, salmonids or eels with the intention of using them as bait is prohibited.

(2)

During the period from and including the 15th day of March to and including the 15th day of June in any year in the following lakes:-

Windermere, Coniston, Wastwater, Ennerdale Water, Crummock Water, Buttermere, Loweswater, Bassenthwaite, Derwentwater, Brotherswater, Ullswater, Rydalwater and Grasmere;

(a)fishing with maggots, their pupae or imitations thereof is prohibited;

and

(b) the use of the baits specified in (a) above as lures or baits not on or attached to a hook is prohibited.

The Byelaws are intended to assist the Environment Agency in protecting and managing named fisheries which through the introduction of unconsented illegal fish species, diseases, parasites or non-native fish maybe brought into a water such as Windermere which could put at risk the flora and fauna of the water and impact on the native species such as the Arctic charr.

During the previous rod licence period, April 1st 2016 to March 31st 2017 the Environment Agency through its Cumbria and Lancashire Fisheries Enforcement Officers carried out 34 recorded enforcement patrols on Windermere from the bank and also on the water using the Lakes Enforcement boat, further general patrols were carried out round South Cumbria lakes area. 136 anglers were checked and 9 anglers reported for offences. The offences detected were Freshwater Baits and Rod Licence offences.

Officers also carried out 2 patrols on the river Brathay, 4 anglers were checked and 3 offences reported, one patrol resulted in the officers requesting police assistance to assist with the apprehending of a suspected offender and a foot chase through the streets of Ambleside.

2 anglers were also checked on the river Rothay.

The Environment Agency GIA funding has been drastically reduced over several years and Enforcement resources have to be directed at substantiated intelligence and information.

During 2016 the Environment Agency received information that allegedly Eastern European anglers were catching and removing for food fish from Windermere in the Waterhead area contrary to the Fish Removal Byelaw which states,

Byelaw 3 Fish Removal rod and line

(i) No person may remove by rod and line any freshwater fish listed in Schedule 1 from any river, stream or drain, or from the waters listed in either Schedule 2 or Schedule 3 except:

(a) 15 fish, other than grayling, of not more than 20cm per day.

(b) 1 pike of not more than 65cm per day.

(c) 2 grayling of not less than 30cm and not more than 38cm per day.

The size of any fish shall be ascertained by measuring from the tip of the snout to the fork or cleft of the tail.

Schedule 1

Silver bream

Common bream
Barbel
Crucian carp
Common carp
Chub
Dace
Roach
Rudd
Tench
Pike
Smelt
Grayling
Perch

SCHEDULE 2

Stillwater’s

England

Lake Windermere SD39395773

Coniston Water SD3082996365

Ullswater NY450220

Derwentwater NY200260

All waters within the Broads (as defined in section 2(3) of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988) subject to a close season for freshwater fish.

The intelligence provided resulted in an angler being reported for unlicensed fishing resulting in a successful prosecution. Whilst there were indications that fish removal and cooking might also have been intended there was no evidence to substantiate a further offence and advice and guidance was given.

The Environment Agency officers receive much support and assistance from SLDC Lake Wardens which is much appreciated and provides opportunities to carry out Partnership working.

An example of an Environment Agency officers witness statements may provide an insight into the difficulties and challenges often faced when carrying out the enforcement role.

These reported offences resulted in the offenders being successfully prosecuted.

Windermere is a changing water body, in over 30 years of enforcement work I have seen a considerable change in angling activity on the lake with pike angling effort in recent years becoming the main quarry species as trout and charr fishing decline. Coarse species such as Roach and Bream are also increasingly fished for.

Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement officers work with similar powers and responsibilities as police offices including powers of arrest and seizure and are constables for the purpose of carrying out duties under the SAFFA. Officers carry Batons and Hand Officers also contribute to the Agencies management of its responsibilities by providing information to the Agency and Partners and helping with projects such as the long term Arctic Charr monitoring on Windermere.