Operation Salmo 2007
joint initiative between Police and Water Bailiffs in Grampian.
A crackdown on salmon poaching in the North-east is being launched today, Monday 12 February.2007.
On the day the fishing season opens on the River Spey, Grampian Police are launching Operation Salmo in a bid to net poachers, many of whom operate in well-organised gangs.
Operation Salmo was first run in the Strathclyde Police area in 2004 to combat illegal salmon poaching. The operation is now being rolled out across Scotland in an attempt to tackle this crime.
The operation will focus on improved communication between Water Bailiffs and Police Officers. The sharing of intelligence and identifying problems areas will hopefully lead to better detections.
The launch of this operation is also designed to highlight the serious crime of salmon poaching within Grampian and the very damaging knock-on effect it has on the wider economy.
Dave MacKinnon, Force Wildlife Crime Officer for Grampian Police said: "We are delighted with this new initiative within the Grampian area and indeed across Scotland. Here in the North-east we have some of the best salmon rivers in the country, including the Rivers Esk, Dee and Spey, some of which are also world-renowned. We have a fantastic natural resource in these fish which attracts many people from all over the world to the area for high quality fishing in wonderful surrounds."
He stressed: "The illegal activity carried out by individuals - and more importantly commercial poaching gangs - can have both a serious environmental and economic affect on the river and wider community.
"Illegal methods used by gangs, who often travel from far outwith the Grampian area, involves the use of nets and sometimes chemicals which can lead to scores of fish being taken in one night. Illegal salmon netting also occurs on the coast where fish are sometimes taken using illegal nets set from the shore."
He added: "I anticipate that closer working relations with the bailiffs on the ground will lead to us mounting joint operations in problem areas, this partnership based approach has already proved successful in other kinds of Wildlife Crime operations locally, and is entirely in keeping with the aims of the Strategy for Combating wildlife crime in Grampian which was launched last week."
" I also welcome the publics support with this operation particularly river users and people living nearby and would encourage them to phone Grampian Police on 0845 6005700 with any information or suspicious activity."
Roger Knight, Director of the Spey Fishery Board said: "The River Spey is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the river and its tributaries are a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for Atlantic Salmon, Otter, Freshwater Pearl Mussel and Sea Lamprey. An economic survey in 2003 also showed that angling on the River Spey provides £11.8 million per year to the local economy and supports 367 full-time jobs.
"This means that each salmon caught provided £1,700 to the local community. Salmon poaching is not always "one for the pot", and these days often involves groups of criminals operating on a commercial scale. It not only causes irreparable environmental damage to a designated SAC, but it also has a significant impact on local businesses and causes damage to rural communities. We look forward to strengthening our already close ties with the police in order to control the poaching of these superb fish."
Mark Bilsby, Director of the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board said ” The fishers and angling community of the Dee welcome this initiative as it will help to promote healthy salmon stocks on the river. These healthy stocks are not only good for conservation reasons but also help to support significant numbers of local jobs in the rural economy. It is only by the Fishery Boards, Police and local community working together that a benefit can be brought about.”