Contractors spent three days removing bream, carp, perch, roach and rudd from a half-mile stretch near Kingshill. The fish will be used to re-stock other lakes in the county. The Kingshill to Rushley Platt section of the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal is owned by the borough council. A spokesman for the authority said removing fish from the entire length of the canal was the best way of tackling the problem of poaching.
"We've had several complaints about illegal fishing even though there have been signs put up there for several years," he said. "But we have had to wait for suitable conditions to remove the fish, which is why the work is being carried out now by specialist contractors." A spokesman for the Environment Agency said it was :"Absolutely committed to eliminating illegal fishing. We will have no hesitation in prosecuting those who commit fish crime to the fullest extent of the law," he said.
But the move has not gone down well with everyone. Dog walker Paul Scarr said he was furious the wildlife in the area was being moved. “I’m disgusted,” the 64-year-old said. “I was walking my dog along there and saw them with nets taking the fish out. They had a flatbed truck and they were putting them all in big tanks. I asked them what they were doing and they said it’s because the council don’t have the resources to police it. They’ve destroyed the eco-system down there and now the water is horrible. I just don’t think it’s right.”
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