STEPS are being taken to renew a fish-friendly by-law which has protected salmon and sea trout in the River Esk for the past 14 years.

The North-East Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Committee has agreed to support Environment Agency proposals to seek a renewal of the by-law.

The Esk By-law was introduced in 1987 to counter a decline in salmon and sea trout caught in the river. It restricts fishing on the lower part of the Esk, below Ruswarp Weir, near Whitby, North Yorkshire.

It was renewed for a second time in 1997, with a time limit of five years, meaning the by-law will expire next February.

Environment Agency fishery scientist, Ian Dolben, said: "Salmon and sea trout migrating through the tidal Esk have always been vulnerable to both legal and illegal fishing, because of the small size of the river and the presence of riffles and weirs.

"We are delighted that this by-law has succeeded in halting the problem while benefiting salmon and sea trout stocks throughout the whole river.

"We want to see the stocks in the river return to their former levels and renewing the by-law will be crucial in achieving this."