Police in Inverness and water bailiffs work in partnership to tackle poaching

Leading on from the recent water bailiff training day, a Police Scotland wildlife crime officer joined water bailiffs from the Ness District Salmon Board on a boat- based patrol of Loch Ness on Saturday (May 3).

The boat used was a licensed rigid hulled inflatable boat operated by the Spey District Salmon Board whose co-operation in making the boat available with a qualified skipper/water bailiff was greatly appreciated.

The purpose of the patrol was to engage with members of the community who were fishing from boats or from the shores to ensure their compliance with the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation ) Scotland Act 2003. Eight boats were stopped on the loch and eight anglers on the shores of the loch were also spoken to. It was pleasing to note the relatively high level of compliance however several anglers were offered educational words of advice and one person will be reported for a poaching offence.