At Cardiff Magistrates Court last week (9.11.07) two men from the St Mellons area were ordered to pay a combined total of £2,100 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to fishing offences on the River Taff below Blackweir, in November last year. Rodney Charles Morgan of Melville Avenue and Nigel Mark Sheppard of Meadowsweet Drive also had to forfeit their fishing equipment.

The Court was told that on Wednesday 8 November 2006 the Agency received information from a member of the public reporting individuals fishing by rod and line on the River Taff at Blackweir.

The next day a team of Agency officers took up positions near Blackweir and at around 6.30 am two men, later identified as Morgan and Sheppard appeared and started fishing by rod and line in the weir pool. Morgan caught and killed four large fish, placed them in a black bag, hid it in undergrowth, returned to the river and resumed fishing. 

At this point the officers crossed over a footbridge towards Morgan and Sheppard, who then stopped fishing and began to walk away. They were intercepted by the officers as they reached the top of the bank.

One of the officers spoke to Sheppard, informed him that he had been observed poaching salmon and cautioned him. When asked for his name and address he became abusive, refused to provide details, and was placed under arrest.  Morgan provided what proved to be his correct name and address but had no identification on him, and so he was also arrested.

A search of the woodland area revealed a plastic bag containing four large hen salmon. Both men were taken to Cardiff Central Police Station where their identities were verified.

Steve Barker, Agency Senior Enforcement Officer said: “The Taff is a marvellous example of a recovering industrial river. The Agency and its' partners have invested heavily in bringing salmon stocks back, to what only a generation ago, was a virtually fishless river. Salmon stocks are a key indicator of a good environment. The illegal exploitation of salmon, by whatever means, can have a major impact on future stocks. The 4 female salmon destroyed in this instance deprived the River Taff of some 5 per cent of its' potential spawning stock. The Agency takes such matters very seriously and it is reassuring to see that this is reflected by the sentencing of the Court. This case should serve as a serious deterrent."

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 November 2007 )