Written By: Martin Watkins
On Date: 13/11/2006
A Cardigan man has been ordered to pay £300 in fines for two illegal fishing offences committed on the River Teifi at Abercych. He was also ordered to pay costs of £250 to Environment Agency Wales who brought the prosecution.
David Wayne Jones of Bro Teifi, Cardigan pleaded guilty at Cardigan Magistrates’ on 7 November 200 to two charges in relation to illegal fishing activities.
On or about 16 May 2006, he placed an unauthorised fixed engine (a net) on the River Teifi at Abercych Sawmills. This is an offence contrary to Section 6(1) of the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (as amended by Section 33(1) of the Salmon Act 1986. He was fined £100.
Between 15 and 18 May 2006, on the River Teifi at Abercych Sawmills, he fished, otherwise than by means of an instrument which he was entitled to use for that purpose by virtue of a fishing licence. This is an offence contrary to contrary to Section 27(a) of the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. He was fined £200.
In mitigation the Court heard that:
He had entered an early guilty plea and no fish had been taken.
At the time of the offences Jones was under severe pressure arising from the ill-health of his daughter, whose treatment involved regular attendance at a Cardiff hospital. As a result, he had been required to take 24 days unpaid leave from his job at Abercych Sawmills and it was claimed that the offences were committed in order to put food on the table rather than sell on the catch for personal gain.
Jones had co-operated with the Bailiffs and had not attempted to run away. Although he had previous convictions, these were now spent and related to his activities as a licensed seine netsmen.
Following the case, an Agency spokesperson commented: ‘Environment Agency staff will continue to patrol the river Teifi and other West Wales rivers to detect any illegal fisheries activities. Any offenders found to be involved in such activity will face appropriate enforcement action.’
Local man must pay over £500 for poaching on the Teifi