Otter News Archive
Otters die at High Eske Nature Reserve after getting trapped in illegal fishing nets
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28th May 2010
Graig Welch
Hull Daily Mail, Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Two otters have been killed after anglers illegally fixed nets at a nature reserve near Beverley.
The male and female adult otters were discovered by walkers on Tuesday afternoon and raised the alarm with the Environment Agency.
Agency fisheries enforcement officers, the RSPCA and Humberside Police's wildlife crime officer attended the scene.
They retrieved the otters, who had been dead for some time, and seized the fyke nets.
High Eske Nature Reserve at Tickton is an important spawning ground for coarse fish, such as pike, perch, carp and bream in the River Hull and angling is strictly controlled.
The illegal nets snared the otters, so they were unable to escape.
Agency team leader Phil Young admits illegal fishing at the reserve is a growing problem.
He said: "Illegal angling has become an increasing problem at the reserve in recent months.
"We want residents and birdwatchers to be able to enjoy the reserve and its wildlife and would appeal to any responsible visitors to immediately report anything suspicious."
RSPCA inspector Geoff Edmond has been left shocked by the otters' deaths.
He said: "I'm appalled by what's happened here. Otters are just beginning to re-establish themselves in East Yorkshire which makes it all the more tragic that two have been killed in this way. We are working hard to find out who was responsible."
The police have also slammed the illegal fishermen.
Sergeant Dave Jenkins, of Humberside Police, said: "I have lived in this area all my life and spent a lot of time along the banks of this river and never had the pleasure of seeing an otter.
"They are something of a rarity, so to find two dead ones is quite devastating to the reintroduction of otters into this area.
"What makes matters far worse is that their deaths were totally unnecessary and caused by people who have placed nets both in the river and nearby pond to illegally catch eels.
"We shall be working with the Environment Agency and RSPCA to ensure that something like this does not happen again and if we can identify the person or persons who placed the nets we will be looking to prosecute those offenders."
Otters are a protected species, so killing them is illegal and could lead to a fine of up to £5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.
The maximum sentence for those found fishing with illegal nets is an unlimited fine and two years in prison.
Anyone wanting to report similar crimes can call the agency's hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or call the RSPCA cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.