The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free

Fishing
The age old battle with poachers, this time for the noble aim of protecting fish stocks in our rivers, rather than game for landowners’ hunting.
From the collection of:

Overview
The constant battle to protect fish stocks on Yorkshire’s principal river for salmon and trout, the Esk, starts at the Yorkshire Fishing Authority’s fish farm near Pickering. Having observed the workings of the hatchery, Michael Clegg joins the daring men of the YFA as they journey along the Esk, and then out on the sea near Whitby, on the lookout for rogue fishermen who, whether it is for pleasure, money, or just something for supper, are intent on flouting the regulations.
The fish hatchery at High Costa Mill, Marton Lane, near Pickering, was taken over by Northern Trout from the National Rivers Authority in 1995. The site, previously known as Costa Spring Hatchery Ltd., was originally established in 1932 to provide brown trout for rivers in the North of England. The job of regulating angling and maintaining fisheries was passed over from the National Rivers Authority to the Environment Agency when it was established in 1996. Stocks of sea trout and salmon in the River Esk reached a low point in the early 1990s, but thanks to the Esk Tideway Byelaw, passed in 1987, and the Yorkshire Esk’s Salmon Action Plan of 1999, stocks have greatly improved.
Related

Pub Crawl Pub Crawl
Lifestyle show 1983 26 mins Location: York
Naturalist Michael Clegg indulges in the food, drink, and local legends of some of Yorkshire’s most famous public houses.

Pick up to Pickering Pick up to Pickering
Amateur film 1966 8 mins Location: Hungate
The railway tracks are ready for scrap as the last train and its crew to pass from Pickering to Rillington Junction makes its forlorn journey.

Preserved Iron Horses Preserved Iron Horses
Non-Fiction 1972 27 mins Silent Location: Goathland
All aboard for the ‘Scarborough Spa Express’ as it joins the many refurbished steam locos ferrying railway enthusiasts back and forth over Heartbeat country.

NYMR News No. 4 NYMR News No. 4
Non-Fiction 1976 14 mins Location: Grosmont
Beeching may have had his way in devastating the railway network, but thankfully many railway enthusiasts were on hand to save at least some lines, as here on the North York Moors.

NYMR News No. 5 NYMR News No. 5
Non-Fiction 1977 10 mins Location: Pickering
All aboard the Silver Jubilee special in the company of Leon Brittan as it wends its way across the North York Moors pulled by a steam loco with the famous name of George Stephenson.

NYMR News No. 1 NYMR News No. 1
Non-Fiction 1973 4 mins Location: Pickering
No money incentives required for the dedicated volunteers bringing the defunct Whitby to Pickering up to speed for re-opening, and for the arrival of the iconic Flying Scotsman.

New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.