Officers from Environment Agency Wales and Dyfed Powys Police have apprehended a man for alleged illegal netting in the Burry Inlet, Burry Port.
The team were patrolling the area over the weekend as part of an operation to target illegal cocklers in the Loughor Estuary, and became suspicious of a fishing boat operating during the early hours of the morning.
As the operator of the fishing boat attempted to leave the Burry Port, officers stopped the vehicle to question the driver.
The driver, a local man in his 50’s, was found to be in possession of 16 fish, illegally taken from the estuary.
Fishing is prohibited in the Loughor Estuary as it is an important nursery for sea bass and an important migratory route for salmon and sewin.
Huw Griffiths, from Environment Agency Wales said:
“Illegally netting fish in a sensitive area like this can impact on both young sea bass stocks, and on fish stocks in the river Loughor, as salmon and sewin rely on this migratory path to spawn.
“We urge anyone who suspects illegal fishing to contact us and report it on our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”
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