A CRACKDOWN on illegal fishing has netted 18 suspects.

Fisheries officers from the Environment Agency have carried out a four-week summer operation targeting local rivers.

On the River Derwent, near Consett three men from South Tyneside were arrested for poaching with a net, while a fourth man was reported for fishing without a licence.

In the Durham City area, five anglers were reported for fishing without a licence and a further four were unable to produce a licence.

One angler was reported for multiple offences of unlicensed fishing and failure to return foul hooked fish and theft, and another man was reported for theft.

At Willington, one angler was reported for unlicensed fishing. Two others who left the area were traced and dealt with for suspected unlicensed fishing, failure to give their details and obstruction.

Kevin Summerson, fisheries enforcement officer with the Environment Agency, said: “Sadly there is a small number of anglers who cheat others by not buying a licence or poaching on our rivers, damaging fish stocks and undermining others.

“We work closely with the police and angling clubs to gather intelligence about illegal fishing and respond to reports from the public, to ensure our patrols are targeted at the right places, and the right people.”