Anti-poaching patrols will be carried out at several rivers

Despite regular patrols, poachers struck last weekend and removed about 20 adult fish from a pool on the River Barle, the Environment Agency said.

The salmon were waiting to move upstream to spawn when they fell victim to a gang using illegal nets.

The agency said the loss was a "serious setback" to fish stocks and that offenders faced fines of up to �2,500.

The poachers have robbed the River Barle and surrounding rivers of valuable future salmon stock Environment Agency

The poaching was discovered when agency officers on patrol discovered the pool had been emptied of salmon.

Fish scales were found on the riverbank where the poachers landed their illegal catch, and there were also fresh marks at the side of the riverbank believed to have been caused by a net.

The poachers are also thought to have returned to the river a second time and removed any remaining salmon still lying up in the pool.

Ann Riley of the agency said: "The loss of these salmon to poachers is a serious setback. These were adult fish in prime breeding condition that were about to spawn.

"By stealing such important fish, the poachers have robbed the River Barle and surrounding rivers of valuable future salmon stock. We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone we catch poaching."

Fishing season

The agency is stepping up patrols on the River Barle, as well as surrounding rivers including the Bray, Upper Exe and Upper Taw.

It said it would also be working with Exmoor National Park Authority in its crackdown on salmon poachers.

As the fishing season is over, it is an offence under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 to remove a salmon from the river in the closed season.