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Addressing Fish Theft

April 2008
Early April and Chips4Fish headed to Sigglesthorpe, just north of Hull where we trained the lake owner at Westlands Lakes to implant chips ready for their forthcoming delivery of a large number of 20 - 30lb fish - part of a re-stocking programme for their specimen lake.
Later the same day Chips4Fish were the other side of the pennines training three more implanters at Horn's Dam Fishery, Goosngargh near Preston.

Training new implanters is central to Chips4Fish aims and objectives, giving fisheries the opportunity to undertake microchipping of stock fish for management and/or security at affordable rates.

Two newly trained microchip implanters get to grips with a 15lb mirror carp at Horn's Dam

To see a ITV Wales report on chipping carp (below) just click the link (Carp Chipping Link)

March 2008
Chips4Fish, found itself on the cold, windswept banks of the Bristol Channel just a day after the recent, March, storms, at Peterstone Coarse Fishery near Newport in South Wales .

I was there at the invitation of the Environment Agency Wales Environmental Crime Officer Ian Wilson, to talk to the regional media and demonstrate fish identification tagging by microchip.

Peterstone Lakes bought in a number of beautiful common and linear carp for the event as part of their re-stocking programme. These fish were microchipped in front of the television and regional press and the unique identity numbers that the microchip carries has since been entered on a national database which ties the fish, indisputably, to Peterstone Lakes . If any of them should be stolen and discovered elsewhere the microchip number will help bring the thief and perhaps the owner of the lake in which they’re found, to justice!

The Fishery Manager, Martin Cronin and a bailiff were both trained in microchipping techniques during the day and they will now take on the task of microchipping the rest of the fish in the lakes as they get caught.

Having the fish ‘chipped’ will not only increase the security of the lakes but will give the management a tool that will help monitor the fish stock growth rate, a useful indicator of the health of the lake itself!

Also attending the event was the Police Crime Prevention Officer from Barry, PC Richard Collins and representatives of some other South Wales angling organisations.

Before and after the fish is chipped it
is checked with a scanner to ensure:
pre-implant scan - that the fish has
not already been chipped.
post-implant scan - to ensure the
chip is in the fish and is working.

Chips4Fish are pleased to aid the Environment Agency, The Pike Anglers Club and King's Lynn Angling Association in their new initiative to address the problems of fish theft. Please read the following information and phone the EA information line on 01480 483023 or their Hotline number, 0800 807060 if you see anything amiss!

A Crimestoppers-style telephone line is being launched for anglers to report information about fish thefts.

Environment Agency fisheries officers have teamed up with the Pike Anglers Club and King's Lynn Angling Association to trial an initiative in East Anglia. They hope intelligence they receive will help them target patrols in areas where they will be most effective and start making in-roads into the problem.

EA enforcement officer Richard Ingham said: "Incidents requiring an immediate response should be reported using the incident hotline 0800 80 70 60, this additional number is for anyone to provide information direct to fisheries enforcement officers.The information received will be used as intelligence to allow for targeted operations and patrols to be conducted."

Anglers are being urged to carry a pen and paper with them to note down details of incidents including times and descriptions of anglers behaving suspiciously and their vehicles, including registration numbers. Both clubs will be promoting the numbers to their members and urging them to use them. Many PAC members enjoy fishing in the Fens, while visiting predator anglers bring vital revenue to clubs and businesses in the area.

PAC chairman Colin Goodge said: "This is a way all anglers can be the eyes and ears of the Environment Agency and ensure that the information goes directly to the people who can make use of it. We urge anyone to report details of fish being removed to help the EA build up a better picture of where it's going on and who's doing it."

The move comes after both PAC members and bailiffs from the 800-strong King's Lynn Angling Association (KLAA) witnessed a number of incidents of fish being killed and taken from waters including the Great Ouse and Relief Channel this season.

KLAA secretary Ashley Brown said: "We need anglers to be out eyes on the bank. Please report anything, no matter how trivial you may think it is, when it happens not a day or week later so we can target the problem areas.
"The long-term future of KLAA fisheries needs protecting , so we can all enjoy the rivers and drains for years to come."
The number to call with any information is 01480 483023. While the line covers East Anglia for now, a similar initiative may be rolled out nationwide if it proves successful. Please include as much information as you can in your message and a contact number so an officer can call you back.

PAC NEWS