A 69-year-old man from Henley has been ordered to pay more than £4,700 after being found guilty of conducting illegal gold panning activities in a protected Welsh river.
Brian Wright was discovered by Natural Resources Wales officers sifting through riverbeds in waterproof waders on multiple occasions, searching for the precious metal in an area where such activities are prohibited.
When questioned by officers about his activities, Wright acknowledged that he had discovered small amounts of gold.
He was apprehended at Pont Wen on the Afon Wen near Dolgellau during separate incidents on October 4, 2024, and December 16, 2024.
The convictions were secured at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court on September 14, resulting in financial penalties comprising £400 and £1,500 in fines, alongside £2,800 in associated costs.
Gold panning, which involves excavating gravel from riverbeds and extracting minerals such as gold, has been prohibited on land overseen by Natural Resources Wales due to the environmental harm it inflicts upon aquatic ecosystems.
The practice also constitutes a violation of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, as the disturbance of riverbeds and removal of minerals can damage critical habitats relied upon by wildlife, including spawning fish populations.
Richard Berry, the Land Management Team Leader for Natural Resources Wales in North West Wales, emphasised that protected natural environments require vigilant stewardship.
Berry stated that areas such as Coed y Brenin represent valuable ecosystems, and operations like unlawful gold panning pose significant threats to river habitats and their inhabitants.
He noted that enforcement actions would be pursued when violations are identified, and that individuals disregarding regulations could face criminal proceedings.
Court records indicate that Wright had previously received sentences for comparable offences in May 2022, establishing a pattern of repeated violations despite prior legal consequences.