Environment Agency discover illegal net strung across river in North Yorkshire to catch migratory sea trout

The Environment Agency seized the net at Kilton Beck in Skinningrove, between Whitby and Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

Fisheries enforcement officers visited the scene after a tip-off that it had been laid on Tuesday.

The net had been set up to target sea trout during their migration upstream from the North Sea to breed, and several other similar traps have been found in north-east rivers in recent months.

A licensed, regulated and managed sea trout fishery is already in operation along the north-east coast.

Enforcement officer David Shears said: "The net was of ideal size to create an impenetrable barrier across the full width of the beck and is reported to have been set like that the previous day.

"Kilton Beck is an important coastal stream for migratory trout, so this net would prevent those fish from reaching their natural spawning grounds.

"Illegal nets such as this are indiscriminate in nature have the potential to catch and kill large numbers of fish, as well as potentially harming other wildlife that are unfortunate to get tangled in them.

"Once again, we received a tip-off about this net, which highlights just how important it is for people to report information to us that helps protect the local fishing industry."

It is illegal for individuals to fish for salmon or sea trout by net without an official licence from the Environment Agency.

Those who operate unlicensed nets face unlimited fines and possible prison sentences.

To report any incidents of illegal fishing or poaching, contact the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.