New environmental legislation to protect Filey seabird population

New environmental legislation has been proposed by staff at the UK's Environment Agency to try to minimise the number of seabirds being caught up in fishing nets in the bay at Filey.

Having monitored the coast and produced an independent report, conservation experts are proposing a fishing by-law to change the way fishermen work their nets.

Environment manager Simon Firth said the agency - which is an executive non-departmental public body - is working with the sea trout and salmon fishermen as well as conservation groups to enable a sustainable fishery to exist there.

"The by-law will introduce essential changes to the management of the fishery now and in the future, so that future seabird populations can be protected while allowing the fishermen to continue fishing," he stated.

One of the Filey netsmen, Rex Harrison, added that the fishermen have collaborated with various conservation groups over the past two years in an attempt to reduce bird catches and will continue to do so in the future.

Written by Lauren Steadman