I WOULD like to correct some serious misconceptions expressed by Mr L Jones (Letters, May 5) regarding a prison sentence of 15 months imposed recently on a poacher.

The man involved had previous convictions for theft and dishonesty, including a conviction for a similar poaching offence on the Ribble in 1994.

In this particular case, he pleaded guilty to five offences under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 and the Salmon Act 1986.

These days, poaching is not taking 'one for the pot,' but is large-scale theft with no thought for the damage being done to the river environment. Fishery owners, angling clubs and the fishery authorities have invested huge amounts of money to maintain and, hopefully, improve fish stocks, not simply for their own benefit but for the benefit of the rivers and future generations.

Without this investment, there would be few fish left.

In addition, anglers pay very considerable sums to attempt to catch some of these fish even though increasing numbers of them are being returned to the water for the purpose of conservation.

It is time the general public was made aware of the responsible attitude of anglers compared with the greed and irresponsibility of the poaching fraternity.

A representative of Ribble Fisheries Association (name and address received)

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