ANGLERS are being warned rivers are off limits for coarse fishing as the close season starts, to ensure fish stocks recover.
North Yorkshire police, the environment agency and the angling trust will be on the look out for illegal fishing and to ensure the law is enforced up to June 16.
They’re also calling on local people to be their eyes and ears and report any illegal angling saying this kind of information could prove crucial in identifying offenders and taking them to court. Now is the time when many coarse fish, including perch, pike, roach and tench spawn and need to be left undisturbed.
PC Hannah McPeake, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce said: “Every year the close season prevents fishing in rivers for coarse fish for three months, to give them a chance to breed. The majority of anglers fish within the law, and we will be working closely with them and our partners to target the minority who do not.
They ask anyone who sees suspicious activity in isolated locations to call 101 or the environment agency.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here