Mackerel fishers slapped with £100 fines in crackdown

MISCREANT mackerel fishers were slapped with 10 £100 fixed penalty notices at Hope’s Nose in Torquay this summer.

Among the charges dished out was one for catching too many fish at the beauty spot, which has become a hot spot for ‘industrial’ scale fishing.

Nearby residents have complained about antisocial behaviour at Hope’s Nose and at Berry Head in Brixham, where large groups of people gather to fish.

Rubbish has been left behind and local anglers say they have been threatened by gangs who are said to be catching huge quantities of mackerel to take away and sell commercially.

Torbay Council responded to the concerns by introducing public space protection orders at both locations, meaning people breaching the rules can receive fixed penalty notice and fines.

During a recent full council meeting, Councillor Christine Carter said a recent freedom of information request revealed that during July three fines had been handed out at Hope’s Nose for erecting tents; four for lighting fires; two for camping and one for catching too many fish.

However, no such notices were issued over the same period at Berry Head.

Cllr Carter asked: “Is this due to a lack of visits by an enforcement officer, or has the antisocial behaviour reduced at this location?”

The question was answered by

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The experience was simply that when officers were present at Berry Head there were not any offences witnessed

Cllr Hayley Tranter

Cllr Hayley Tranter, who is the cabinet member responsible.

She replied: “The same number of visits were conducted at Berry Head as they were at Hope’s Nose. The experience was simply that when officers were present at Berry Head there were not any offences witnessed.

“Much of the ‘enforcement’ was done by deterrent, engaging people before potential offences are committed and making the presence of enforcement personnel known.”

She said it had not been a very good season for mackerel and the weather had also acted as a deterrent.

6A huge cooler filled to the brim with mackerel taken by a fisherman at Berry Head in the summer. Just one person has been fined for overfishing at Berry Head and Hope’s Nose this year Ian Chatterton