Enraged fishermen were stunned after eastern European immigrants were given a ”rough guide” to find the best lakes for poaching English fish.
A Russian-language newspaper urged its migrant readers living in England to avoid shopping in supermarkets and ”catch their own” fish instead.
Hungry readers were directed to four fishing lakes where they could hook the tastiest ingredients fit for a traditional Russian carp soup.
Seven eastern European anglers were caught brandishing the cut out and keep guide last week at one of the recommended fishing lakes in Northamptonshire
Angry fisheries bosses blame immigrants for decimating stocks in fishing lakes across England in recent years.
It is illegal to steal and eat fish from UK lakes but the practice is common across many eastern European countries.
The London-based newspaper Angliya apologised for the gaffe admitting the story was a ”mistake”.
The paper recommended Bluebell Lakes, in Oundle, Northants., Boddington Reservoir near Byfield, Northants., Fennes Fisheries in Braintree, Essex, and Kingfisher Lakes in Norfolk.
Florence Bliss, 53, owner of Kingfisher Lakes, said: ”I’ve got two retired
police dogs patrolling the site now and I even have them out at night time.
”These eastern Europeans come in and take our fish because in their countries they are allowed to.
”I know how much our carp cost to put in the lake and its expensive. So I’d rather go to Tesco and buy them fish rather than letting them take them from my lake.
”I’ve caught people come up here with a dustbin. They catch the carp and and throw them into to eat when they get home.
”I’m very, very angry this newspaper has done this. It’s appalling and
outrageous.”
Christine Bausor, manager of Fennes Fisheries, said she was shocked her six acre site made the list of recommended lakes.
She said ”Quite simply you can’t come here and catch and kill and eat the carp.
”It may be confusing for people from eastern Europe and Russia but
unfortunately if you catch fish in England you have to put them back in the water.
”I don’t know how that newspaper arrived at the conclusion people can come to my lake and steal the fish.
”There are some lakes in the area which are completely decimated. We still have a lot of carp but I don’t like to advertise the fact.”
Tony Bridgefoot, owner of Bluebell Lakes, confronted seven Russian anglers armed with the newspaper article last week.
He said: ”The number of foreign nationals visiting my lakes is increasing all the time.
”The message is clearly still not getting across and, until it does, fishery gates will remain the frontline.
”The British abide by fishing laws when we visit other countries, such as France, when in Rome you do as the Romans.”
John Ellis, fisheries manager for British Waterways and owner of Boddington Reservoir, said removing fish from such venues is ”simply illegal” under Environment Agency by-laws.
The Environment Agency is funding the Building Bridges project working with fisheries, angling clubs and the Eastern European media to improve the understanding among migrant communities of the UK?s recreational fishing laws
Chief Executive Mark Lloyd said: ”The ingredients for fish soup should come from the fishmonger, not from fisheries.”
Angliya published an apology and retraction in its latest issue published on Friday.
The statement published in Russian refers readers to the previous article in its May 28 edition which boasted the headline ”Where to Fish?”.
Translated into English it reads: ”This statement contained a mistake, since in these fisheries fish cannot be taken and cooked, they should be put back into the water.
”The editors apologise to readers and fisheries for the inconvenience.
”In the future, we will tell more about the features of fishing in the UK and on the rules to be observed.”
Angliya is Britain’s largest Russian-language newspaper and is based in
Waterloo, London.
It sells around 30,000 copies each week and reports on local and international news, entertainment previews, listings, business, fashion, sports and culture.
There are around half a million Russians currently registered living
permanently or temporarily in Britain.
The paper is sold at more than 400 locations in London and in 32 towns and cities across the country.
It is also handed out free at Russian shops, supermarkets, businesses,
embassies, hotels, cafes and restaurants.
Angliya translated from Russian into English simply means ”England”.
they r sick people …..they shud go get jobs and buy the fish..plus the water aint even clean..wata bunch of tramps !!!
They the scum of the earth,they have brought every scam known to man to british streets,week goverment,courts and laws make us a laughing stock,bring back some good old english justice THE GALLOWYS.
They’re only eating fish??
It’s funny how the British, who catch and eat tons of fish every year, seem to think it’s only natural if you buy it frozen from Tescos.
If British fisherman gave a crap about the welfare of fish, they’d use barbless hooks.
Carl Sith barbless hooks can cause more damage than good!
poaching is a huge problem in the uk since the last labour gov forced mass immigration on the uk, and its not going to get any better.
fish,swans,ducks they are taking the lot! You go to Poland and the waters are barren of fish and that’s how the uk will be within the next 20 years.