25/03/2005 - Nearly 500
illegal anglers were prosecuted by the Environment
Agency for rod fishing licence offences in
March 2005. The total number of successful
prosecutions for the month totalled 479. Fines
totalled £32,257 with costs of £29,746
awarded to the Environment Agency, making
the average cost of an illegal fishing trip
around £130.
The highest fine for the month was £500
imposed on an illegal angler from Surrey caught
fishing in Yately with three rods but who
could only produce one valid licence. Regionally,
the highest number of successful prosecutions
occurred in the North West, which saw over
100 successful cases concluded in the four-week
period.
Dafydd Evans, the Environment Agency’s Head
of Fisheries said ‘Rod licence fees are essential
in improving and maintaining the standard
of fisheries in England and Wales for all
those who use them, which is why we have this
programme of enforcement.’
‘It seems amazing that some anglers still
choose to play unfairly and cheat honest anglers
out of valuable resource for fisheries across
England and Wales. Those who fish without
a licence face tough penalties including fines
of up to £2,500 and a ban from fishing.’
Buying a licence couldn’t be easier – there
are around 15,000 Post Offices and other outlets
which sell them direct; and for a small additional
charge they can be purchased over the phone
(0870 1662662) or from our web site (see link).
