Avid fishermen and environmentalists fear that over-fishing at Chelmsford Dam will deplete the waters and leave the popular recreational area sterile.
Keen fisherman Mac Osman from Dundee has launched a petition, and already hundreds have signed the letter.
Those who regularly visit the dam to either fish in competitions, or simply spend a day with family and friends, say the illegal use of nets is impacting on hundreds of fish of all species, including barbel, carp and bass. The nets are believed to be up to 30 metres long.
What concerns Mac and others is that security at the dam appears to be so lax that little is done to monitor the situation, which has been going on for some months now.
“People have come forward from all walks of life to sign the petition – fishermen, those who love the outdoors, and people who understand that what is happening is wrong.”
It is believed that the huge catches are for for consumption and/or for re-sale. “Chelmsford Dam is so huge that it is easy to gain access from neighbouring farms. That is why security is crucial to guard these resources.”
Mac believes that should the trend continue, fishing at Chelmsford will become almost non-existent. He already has several hundred signatories on the petition, which he intends to send to authorities in Newcastle. The petition is available at Eastern De-Lites, Ismail’s Trading, Ace Hardware, Docrat’s and Dreamcast Angling.