A number of Rushcliffe police officers from across the rural crime cohort at Nottinghamshire Police were given training by the Angling Trust.
Also involved were members of local fishing clubs discussing angling and the issues they face with theft of fish, theft of fishing rights, anti-social behaviour, invasive species and hate crime.
The Angling Trust, Environment Agency, Volunteer Bailiff Service and Police are all involved in Operation Traverse tackling fish theft and illegal fishing.
Officers received training about criminal and civil cases protecting the environment and fish stocks.
The Building Bridges project also gave a talk about their involvement in protecting fish stocks and education to prevent hate crimes.
Like hare coursing, deer poaching, illegal hunting, theft of eggs and bird of prey chicks, fish poaching is linked to organised crime. Illegal and cruel trapping techniques are used to catch thousands of fish for sale outside of the regulated human food chain.
High value individual fish that anglers pay large amounts to try to catch from fisheries are stolen and mysteriously relocated by organised criminals. This has a direct impact on local fishing clubs and businesses mainly in rural areas.
Pictured – Crusian Carp caught during a legal fishing equipment demonstration by an officer with a temporary rod licence under the supervision of an Angling Trust employee at a private Stillwater fishery in Nottinghamshire.