Annan Fishery Management Plan - RAFTS

River Annan DSFB Fisheries Management Plan 2009 – 20145.1.4 Reduce the Amount ofPoaching Activity within the DistrictThe provisions made in many sections ofthe Salmon and Freshwater fisheries(Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 makestrong and enforceable regulations. Inaddition the Annan DSFB can and doesuse the provisions made in The ScotlandAct 1998 (Border Rivers) Order 1999 in theSolway. Successful prosecutions havebeen made using this with close liaison withthe Environment Agency enforcement teams.In the main river one of the most obvious problems is the lack of protection that theAnnan suffers from by the repeal of the Solway Offences. Whilst this may be regardedas a minor offence there is an issue of fairness as the majority of anglers buy permitsand contribute to the conservation of the fish within the river by doing so.Notwithstanding legislative problems, the Board will continue to try and discourageangling for freshwater fish and brown trout without permits whilst at the same timelobbying hard for a change in the law. Another issue that is becoming increasinglyimportant is the development of a sea bass and mullet gill net fishery which does catchan undisclosed number of salmonids by accident.Other issues that have become apparent over the last few years include the capture ofgravid hen fish to extract the ova for bait and the use of this bait by a minority of anglers.All poaching activities should be treated activities seriously and there is an opportunityfor multiagency approaches as many forms of poaching are indiscriminate and mayharm all forms of wild life, not just fish.31