TOUGHER measures are being taken to stop banned angling from taking place inside Torquay harbour.

Despite earlier warnings, officials say illegal fishing is continuing under the cover of darkness.

Now a 180-metre long line has been floated into the harbour to make it difficult to land hooked fish.

Mariners are warned to steer clear of the line in a notice issued by harbour officials.

Torbay harbourmaster Kevin Mowat has warned anglers breaking bylaws by fishing within the harbour from Princess Pier faced a £1,000 fine and a criminal record.

The ban has been in place for many years to protect harbour users' health and their boats.

Now further action has been taken and harbour users are being alerted in a notice to mariners of the measures in the Princess Pier fairway.

The notice states: "In an attempt to discourage angling from the inside of Princess Pier, a floating and buoyed line will now run from the end of Princes Pier commercial pontoons to the wall near the corner of the pier laying approximately two metres from the pier. Mariners are advised to navigate with care along this fairway."

Torquay harbourmaster Adam Fitzpatrick said: "It is an ongoing problem. The theory is the floating line will make it more difficult to land any fish hooked illegally and that it will add to the deterrent."

The illegal fishing, which is said to be for high-value fish like bass, is taking place when harbour officials are off-duty or in the dead of night.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: "We get reports of it going on from the marina where staff are on duty 24 hours a day, and from members of the public."

The suspicion is the same people are repeatedly offending.

The notice to mariners runs until the end of the year and Mr Fitzpatrick said: "We will see how effective it is and decide what to do."

Angling from the pier is permitted so long as anglers cast their lines out to sea and away from the harbour.

Harbour committee chairman Robert Horne said: "This is all because of the damage caused to people's boats and their equipment.

"No one would normally think a bit of fishing would cause a problem but it does.

"A window cracked by a flying fishing weight is a major specialist repair costing several hundreds of pounds and it has to be done as it is integral to the seaworthiness of a boat.

"We have had discussions with anglers and tried to be reasonable about it but some of them are very belligerent and claim it is their right to fish anywhere regardless of the danger they cause.

"I would argue catch them and prosecute.

"Why should others have to suffer because of a few?"

He has refused to consider a fence to stop anglers casting into the harbour as that would stop public enjoyment of the site and prevent children using a hand-line for crabbing.