Stour and Orwell bait-digging code ignored by anglers

A conservation body says it may have to introduce by-laws with fines to stop anglers digging for bait on the Suffolk/Essex border river estuaries.

A voluntary code was introduced in 2010 to try to stop digging for worms on certain stretches of the Orwell and Stour mudflats.

The Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) said it was being ignored by some individuals.

Fishing tackle shops said the code could be better publicised.

The authority said 40,000 wildfowl and wading birds migrated to the protected tidal estuary habitats each year.

The code, which applied during winter when birds migrated and worms were breeding, still allowed bait-digging on large parts of the rivers.

However, the authority said it was being flouted at areas it wanted to protect such as Orwell Country Park and Stutton.

Julian Gregory, head of marine protection at Eastern IFCA, said: "In the main the code has been very successful, but we're worried that if we can't nip this in the bud, then there is the potential for serious damage to bird habitats.

"We're looking to persuade people via bait and tackle shops, but if that fails then we would consider regulation and we have the power to introduce by-laws."

IFCA had issued a leaflet, external via tackle shops and websites, but it had not put up any signs on the estuary river banks.

Stacy Bird, of Bird's Tackle in Great Blakenham, said: "Anglers accept the need for conservation and as it's just certain areas we can't dig for bait then this should be workable.

"You'll always get some anglers digging for bait in areas they shouldn't, which doesn't help the angling community."

Gary Markham, from Markham's Tackle in Ipswich, said: "I don't think it's a huge problem, but the code could be publicised better as I don't think enough people know about it."