Goldfish rescuer could face prosecution

A volunteer has been threatened with prosecution after rescuing goldfish from the ornamental pond he looks after at Wales’ busiest hospital. Clive Roberts took some 60 fish to his home in Adamsdown, Cardiff, to keep them alive about six weeks ago while the pond underwent essential maintenance. But the Environment Agency Wales has said it wants to question the 58-year-old under caution about the illegal movement of fish.

Mr Roberts, a window cleaner, who has been volunteering at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) for 12 years, faces a £600 bill for a solicitor to attend the interview tomorrow. A member of the public complained to the Environment Agency, sparking the investigation. It is illegal to remove fish from their habitat without permission. The law is designed to prevent the spread of potentially lethal fish diseases.



But Mr Roberts, who donated the fish when the pond was built, said: “I look after the fish pond at the hospital and I rescued some fish from it, which I’ve still got and will be returned when the work on the pond is finished. It now looks as though I’m about to be prosecuted for removing the fish that were in distress.

“Permission usually takes 30 days to get but this was an emergency. I maintain the pond at the hospital; it’s a plastic-lined ornamental pond. Do gardeners break the law when they remove fish from their back garden pond to clean it out?”