Fishy Business?

It's amazing how some folk appear to get away with regarding fish as freebies from the environment. Salmon and Sea trout, both make arduous returns to their natal rivers to breed. Over 7 years, an individual illegally netted 989 Sea trout and 302 Salmon on the River Teifi, near Cenarth in Wales (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/08/poacher-who-took-60k-of-salmon-and-trout-from-welsh-river-walks-free). The poacher's activities would have led to the loss of millions of fish eggs, resulting in a 'significant and unsustainable loss of breeding potential'. Although the fish were valued over £60k, the Swansea judge apparently did not have the option of sending the poacher to prison. His fishing equipment was confiscated and he was fined a nominal £1, as he claimed to have no savings. The case, also involved 25 Police officers and 9 Natural Resources Wales Enforcement officers. These individuals would have added significantly to the cost to the public purse. The 'punishment' clearly does not fit this environmental crime?