Poachers are targeting large ornamental fish in a former dock in Hull, which have been fattened up on junk food thrown into the water surrounding a shopping centre. Passers-by were seen tossing sausage rolls, chips and other scraps into the water, leading to the introduction of carp to the area when the centre opened in 1991. Despite signs stating fishing is off limits, anglers have taken to social media to tell of their trips, while the owner of a nearby business said he had found poachers’ lines tied to railings and even a discarded net. Shopping centre management said they were aware illegal fishing was taking place and were in contact with Humberside Police.
Mark Bayston, the owner of McCoy’s café overlooking the dock, has seen evidence of poaching. He said he sometimes comes in on a morning to see a line attached to one of the railings with a barb on the end sitting in the water. Posting in a carp group on Facebook, one angler asked if fishing was allowed in the basin. Another replied that people have “a quick dabble until security moves you on”, while someone else suggested waiting for nightfall. Others offered tips on how to catch the rumoured “big lumps”, weighing in excess of 20lb.
Sarah Smith, the shopping centre manager, reminded people that “the basin is not for people to fish”. She said management were aware of illegal fishing, but added: “It does not happen very often”. Ms Smith said anyone catching and removing fish was committing “theft and trespass”. The dock contained enough natural food to sustain the fish, meaning people should not feed them, she added.
Feeding scraps of “non-natural” food to the fish would shorten their lives, the Institute of Fisheries Management said previously. Carp will eat anything, including sausage rolls, pasties and chips. Their vital organs, especially their livers, will become encased in fat if they’re fed non-natural food like this, and it really isn’t good for them
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