Yorkshire and NE coast drift net sea trout fishery - consultation result

Following a Consultation, the Environment Agency have decided not to extend the season for beach netting fishing for sea trout in Yorkshire and the North East. 

Of the 562 online responses they received, 93% opposed an extension of the current netting season and 7% were in favour.

This is the first paragraph of our response: 

The Wild Trout Trust believes that there is no justification for any extension to the season for sea trout in the north east beach net fishery. Indeed, we believe that there is sufficient evidence, as highlighted in the consultation report and elsewhere, that the north east sea trout beach fishery is a mixed stock fishery, exploiting at-risk populations with no demonstrable, sustainable surplus. The precautionary principle would dictate that the fishery should cease with appropriate compensation paid to the net licencees, at least until such time that the management of the fishery is underpinned by reliable information on stock composition and the presence (or absence) of a harvestable surplus.’

Our full response is here.

The EA statement following the consultation is here.

Sea trout 2 2015
Image: Paul Sharman