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PROVO — The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources is looking for those responsible for installing an illegal gill net on the Provo River, which killed more than 130 white bass.
The net was discovered under a bridge where the Provo River enters Utah Lake State Park by an angler on May 27, according to the DWR. Investigators said the angler hooked the net with his line and saw it was full of fish.
“There were 132 dead white bass in the net,” a statement from the DWR reads. “More fish came loose from the net and were washed downstream. The total loss of fish resulting from this net was valued high enough to make this violation a third-degree felony.”
Netting of any kind isn’t allowed as legal means for the public to take fish in the state of Utah, according to DWR officer Sean Spencer.
Wildlife officers responded to the area after the fisherman contacted park officers. They surveilled the area for several days, but have been unable to identify those responsible for the net so far.
Anyone with information about the case can call the UTIP hotline at 800-662-3337, or contact officer Sean Spencer by calling 801-618-8945 or sending an email to seanspencer@utah.gov. DWR officials said there may be rewards available for information.
