A new inittiave has been launched by FHI with the crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, that will target the illegal importation of fish and the theft of expensive angling equipment. It is informed that the project will go live on 17 May 2010. Crimestoppers provide complete anonymity and this will encourage the angling community to take more responsibility for their sport/business and report illegal activity.
in this partnership many influential industry organizations are involve, such as the FHI, ECHO, the Angling Trust, Cemex, and the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA). In recent months there has been increasing intelligence to suggest that organised criminal groups now view the illegal importation of live fish (and in particular carp) as a very lucrative business opportunity with relatively low associated risks. The profit margins are often substantial, with an illegally imported 50lb carp likely to be priced in the region of £20,000.
Stuart Katon, the FHI’s Enforcement and Investigations Officer, opined that it is high time to step up their intelligence-led approach towards preventing illegal activity, working closely with other agencies to target organised groups. Dave Cording, Crimestoppers’ Director of Operations expressed that the angling community should not be worried as anyone who provides Crimestoppers with information about crime will remain anonymous. Calls and online forms are not traced or recorded and no personal details will be taken.
