TWO men have been ordered to pay nearly £2,300 in fines and costs and banned for a total of five years for illegally fishing for elvers on the River Parrett.

Magistrates heard how Paul Baxter, 42 of Bath Road, Bridgwater stood on the riverbank acting as look-out while Sonny Bale, 24, of Kendale Road, Bridgwater, also from Bridgwater, fished within a restricted area at the Huntspill sluice.

Environment Agency bailiffs observed the defendants as they arrived beside the river with two other men early on the evening of March 15, 2014.

It is illegal to fish for elvers within 100 metres of Huntspill sluice. Freshwater flowing out of the Huntspill river and into the tidal river Parrett tends to attract elvers. This restriction was introduced to preserve eel stocks that are in serious decline.

Bale and the other fisherman were seen emptying their nets into buckets on at least five occasions.

The bailiffs shone their torches on the offenders and called out to them.

Bale threw his net in the river and left a bucket of elvers tied to the railings of the sluice. After a few minutes Bale returned to the river bank.

A total of 2.3kg of live elvers worth £230 was seized.

At the time of the incident Bale was a licensed elver fisherman.

“Eel numbers are in steep decline and restrictions are necessary to help preserve stocks and ensure their survival,” said Richard Dearnley for the Environment Agency.

Appearing before Taunton magistrates, Bale was fined £400 and ordered to pay £1,700 costs plus a £40 victim surcharge.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of his nets, equipment and a night sight and banned him from elver fishing for three years.

Paul Baxter received a conditional discharge, two year ban and was ordered to pay £250 costs.