Canal vigil to halt poaching

Warning: Environment Agency signs in Polish, Serbian, Portuguese and Romanian are pinned up along the canal in Dobcross.

LEGAL notices in four European languages have been posted along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in an extraordinary bid to stop poaching.

Angry members of Saddleworth Angling Society have mounted a vigil on the Huddersfield canal to stop their fish stocks being depleted.

Poachers have been spotted stealing their catch in the early hours.

Angling club members stick to strict sporting guidelines, but it is thought the poachers are taking the fish to eat.

The legal notices have been pinned along the canal, to warn of the consequences of fishing without a permit.

Environment Agency notices written in Polish, Serbian, Romanian and Portuguese warn of potential fines of up to £2,500 and the need for a licence.

Dave Castle, a former group secretary and a member for 30 years, says fish stocks are dwindling.

He said: “It is serious, if it carries on we will struggle to attract members.

“We’re not stigmatising one group of people, these signs are a reminder of the law. It’s happening nationally: people are doing it to catch a meal.

“We’ve had problems with poachers before — but not like this.

“We’ve not caught anyone red-handed though yet, this is just a precaution.

A local resident spotted poachers from his bedroom window at 2am, making their way along the canal using torches.

It’s thought they were using a technique known as “night-lining”. Others have reported cars arriving at the canal at midnight.

Widely reported nationally, the problem has arisen as a result of immigrants being unaware of the UK’s fishing laws.

But the Saddleworth anglers are keen to stress it could just as easily be local criminals.

The club controls a two and a half mile stretch from Greenfield to the tunnel end in Diggle.

Chairman John Cox said: “There will always be a problem with poaching, but the bigger problem is the cost of replacing fish.

“Some of our younger members keep an eye out at night and we are patrolling the area.”