06/05/2005 - Over the
May Bank Holiday last weekend, Environment
Agency officers in Cambridgeshire visited
88 waters and caught 68 anglers fishing without
a rod licence.
In total, enforcement teams made checks on
868 waters across England and Wales between
30 April and 2 May and caught over 800 illegal
anglers who are cheating honest anglers and
not playing the sport fairly.
Fishing without a licence is an offence and
those caught fishing illegally will face tough
penalties, including fines of up to £2,500
and a ban from fishing.
Environment Agency Fisheries Officer Mick
Robinson said, "We checked almost 90
locations and over 900 rod licences between
Saturday and Monday. 68 anglers were given
tickets to produce a valid licence. People
who fish without a licence are cheating the
system and their fellow anglers. We will continue
vigorously with our blitz programme to bring
rod licence evasion down.
"All rod licence money gets ploughed
back into fisheries work which benefits all
anglers, fish stocks and the waterside environment,
and we will continue with our efforts to safeguard
this essential income."
Rod licence money has recently been used
in Cambridgeshire to install fishing platforms
on the Ely Ouse at Queen Adelaide and at Houghton
Mill. Fish refuges have also been installed
at Block Fen and Barnwell Pit on Cambridgeshire
Fish Preservation and Angling Society Waters.
During the blitz, an officer patrolling the
River Cam spotted an angler fishing on the
opposite bank. He flagged down a passing boat,
hitched a lift and issued the angler with
a ticket for fishing out of season. Enforcement
officers were also pleased to see that more
ladies were seen out fishing than in previous
years, demonstrating what a popular and inclusive
sport fishing can be.
Mick went on to say "Our staff are better
equipped than ever. With access to databases
at the switch of a mobile phone, enforcement
officers can verify address and licence details
– including whether they purchased a licence
the previous year. All this makes catching
licence evaders an easier process."
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 – www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish
