AN OTTER has been killed in an illegal fishing trap near Weir Quay in the River Tamar.

The Environment Agency was alerted by a member of the public who made the gruesome discovery at Weir Quay on the Tamar Estuary. The full-grown otter had swum into the unguarded trap and drowned after it was unable to find its way out.

The Environment Agency has begun an investigation into the death and has warned of the dangers of illegal fish traps.

Rob Wood for the Environment Agency said: 'The irresponsible and illegal setting of traps is leading to an increased number of otter deaths. We probably only get to hear about a fraction of them. The loss of another of these beautiful creatures is sad and could so easily have been avoided.'

It is an offence to set a trap to catch crayfish, eels or prawns without a guard. The trap at Weir Quay, thought to be set for prawns, did not have a guard and it is thought it was abandoned by its owner when they saw it contained a dead otter.

Otters are protected by law and those responsible face a fine of up to £5,000 or up to six months in prison.

This latest fatality is the fourth in recent years. A mother and cub otter drowned in a trap on the River Yealm and a third otter died after entering an unguarded trap on the De Lank River in Cornwall.

As well as otters, some traps can also unintentionally catch water voles.

Anyone setting a crayfish trap must have consent from the Environment Agency and permission from the owner of the land where they intend to set the trap. Traps must conform to a strict size and any with an entrance diameter greater than 95 mm must be fitted with an otter guard.

A leaflet entitled 'Protecting Wildlife – Think Otter' is available from the Environment Agency and provides advice and guidance on how to stay within the law when using a fish trap.

Copies can be obtained from the Fisheries, Permitting and Enforcement Team by calling the Agency's National Customer Contact Centre on 08708 506 506.