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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.
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Two
newly trained microchip implanters get to grips with a 15lb mirror
carp at Horn's Dam
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To see a ITV Wales report on chipping carp (below) just click the link (Carp
Chipping Link)
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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.
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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
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