RFCA ANTI-POACHING REPORT NOV 2023

[Martin James]

The RFCA has always collated and poaching incidents reported to it. For many years this was done by
the RFCA Anti- Poaching Officer alone. This Officer pursued the EA on such incidents and produced a
report for every Council meeting. In the last two years the collation has been done by the RFCA app. For
those people not familiar with this app you can download it onto your smart phone. It is used to report

poaching incidents, predation birds and redd counting. All of which the RFCA does. We still have an Anti-
Poaching Officer, Grant Hinks, 07930807980. He has close contacts with the Rural Police Team and the

EA Fishery Officers. It is well worth contacting him first. The following are the poaching incidents
reported.
May
-Dead bait packets with the dead bait still inside reported at a location where not allowed. Information
sent to EA
-Two people spinning in private water where not allowed and stealing fish. One white male and one
Oriental female. Black Mercedes reported. Info to EA.
Aug
-Pike taken and not returned. Suspected illegal fishing. Info sent to EA
Oct
-Float tube fishing at Parsonage Reservoir, white van reported.
-Float tubing also at Platts Lodge, Accrington. Thought to be same person. Info reported to EA.
Two men caught fishing during close season. Nathan Hart, Fleetwood and Jonathan Mundell, Preston
were taken to court and fined £191 and costs.
One of the things that seemed to have ceased is the large gang poaching which used to happen
regularly. They have informed us they have more lucrative activities to pursue now, long may it continue.