Three anglers have recently been caught using live fish as bait by the National Park Authority's bailiff. This is against the local byelaws designed to protect the lake which is a National Nature Reserve and home to many important plants and animals. One fish in particular, the vendace, is exceptionally rare in Britain and is found only in Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater. Fish being used as live bait can escape into the lake and possibly introduce disease and compete with the native species. One fish, the ruffe, is a particular threat since it eats the eggs of vendace.
Most anglers respect the environment and abide by the rules.
But the byelaws exist for very good reasons and we will continue to take firm action against offenders. The move has the backing of the Bassenthwaite Forum whose membership includes the Parish Councils, the local Borough Council, Friends of the Lake District, the Environment Agency, the Institute of Freshwater Ecology, English Nature and Forest Enterprise. The next stage in a pioneering project to manage green road driving in the Lake District National Park was agreed yesterday. New signs suggesting restricted use of some tracks and requesting no driving on others are to be installed. The notices will explain the environmental and practical reasons for regulating the routes.