Otter dies in illegal trap on Selby Canal

An otter has died after getting caught up in an illegal trap besides Selby Canal.

The trap, through to have been illegally used to catch crayfish, was found on an angling platform at a fishing peg on the canal just outside Selby. It was discovered by a member of the public who reported the find to the police and the Environment Agency.

The agency says that whilst crayfish traps are widely available, consent is required from themselves to set the traps legally. Approval would only ever be given if the traps conformed to strict size dimensions and had an otter guard fitted to prevent animals from getting into the trap.

Ian Marshall, biodiversity officer at the Environment Agency said: “Otters are protected by law and killing them could result in a fine of up to £5,000 or six months in prison.Their return to our rivers is an environmental success story and we do a lot of work to encourage their recovery.

“Anyone wanting to trap crayfish must have the relevant permits from the Environment Agency. Just because a trap is marketed for crayfish use does not mean it is of a legal design. Otter guards can be fitted to non-legal traps to prevent tragedies like this happening again.”

Otter populations have begun to expand across the country following a decline in numbers between the 1950s and 1980s. The return of otters to our rivers reflects improvements in river habitats and water quality, which are now at their healthiest for more than 20 years. Given that numbers are still recovering, otters are legally protected.

Fisheries officers have recovered the body which will now be sent off for analysis. Anybody who suspects similar traps being used are urged to report via the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.