NRW’s ‘buyer beware’ warning to public purchasing illegal salmon

Natural Resources Wales is urging the public to think twice before purchasing salmon and sea trout from individuals and social selling sites and to ensure the fish comes from a legitimate source.

It is illegal to keep any wild salmon caught in Wales and anyone buying wild sea trout is advised to ensure the fish are tagged and have been legally caught from licensed net fisheries.

Any sea trout caught in a licensed net fishery in Wales must have a NRW carcass tag attached through its mouth and gills. This must remain attached until the fish is processed.

These carcass tag measures were introduced to crack down on illegal selling of salmon and sea trout and protect vulnerable fish stocks.

It is against the law to buy, sell, offer to sell or barter any wild salmon.

All salmon caught by either net or rod fisheries must be returned alive with minimum injury and without delay.

Handling Salmon in Suspicious Circumstances is an offence and any person who receives or disposes of any salmon in circumstances where they believe, or could reasonably believe, that the salmon has been illegally caught could face prosecution.

Last month, a Pembrokeshire coracle fisherman admitted illegally catching  and selling a protected salmon caught on the Afon Teifi.

NRW officers became suspicious after seeing a Facebook post from  a local restaurant advertising a locally caught sewin on its menu, investigations later revealed the fish was actually a salmon/

The fisherman was given an unconditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 court costs.

Jeremy Goddard, Industry and Waste Regulation Team Leader for NRW, said:

“Wild salmon and sea trout populations are at risk across Wales and beyond.

“To protect their numbers and safeguard licenced  net fishing and angling, only farmed salmon and sea trout, along with wild sea trout (also known as sewin in Wales) caught in legal net and trap fisheries, can be bought and sold in Wales and England.

“We take any activity that threatens our wild fish stocks extremely seriously and this is especially true of illegal fishing.

“In addition to patrolling Welsh rivers and estuaries, we will be carrying out compliance visits of businesses and individuals advertising and selling wild sea trout, as well as our licenced net fisheries in Wales, to ensure all fish are legally sourced.

“We are urging the public to help in the fight against illegal fishing to protect fish stocks for our future generations.

“If you are offered the sale of salmon and untagged sea trout or if you see any suspicious or illegal activity on our rivers, please report it to the NRW incident hotline on 0300 065 3000 or report it to NRW via its online report it form.”

Find out more about which fish can be bought and sold legally by visiting the NRW website -  Natural Resources Wales / Buying and selling salmon and sea trout in Wales: staying within the law