£2,898 penalty for 8 illegal anglers

The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted eight men from the West Midlands for fishing offences.

The anglers had their cases heard at Northampton Magistrates Court on 5 June 2023.

The illegal anglers received the following:

• angler one: for fishing without a licence at Coppice Lane Pool, was ordered to pay a total of £443, including a fine of £220, costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £88;
• angler two: for fishing without a licence at Kingsbury Water Park, was ordered to pay a total of £443, including a fine of £220, costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £88;
• angler three: for fishing without a licence at Fisherwick Fishery, was ordered to pay a total of £443, including a fine of £220, costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £88;
• angler four: for fishing without a licence on the River Tame, was ordered to pay a total of £443, including a fine of £220, costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £88;
• angler five: for fishing without a licence at Pool Hall Carp Fishery, was ordered to pay a total of £443, including a fine of £220, costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £88;
• angler six: for leaving his rod and line with its bait or hook in the water unattended and not exercising sufficient control in contrary to angling byelaws on the River Avon, was ordered to pay a total of £205, including a fine of £50, costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £20;
• angler seven: for fishing without a licence at Fisherwick Fishery, was ordered to pay a total of £251, including a fine of £83, costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £33;
• angler eight: for fishing without a licence at Pool Hall Carp Fishery, was ordered to pay a total of £227, including a fine of £66, costs of £135, and a victim surcharge £26.

Nichola Tomlinson, Fisheries Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency for the West Midlands Area, said: "We hope the penalties received by these illegal anglers will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws for angling in England".

"The cases show how seriously the courts take these offences and the anglers have been rightly punished for the illegal fishing they undertook. Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing".

The Environment Agency enforcement teams continue to make sure anglers comply with regulations to protect fish stocks. In 2021 to 2022, fisheries enforcement officers checked just over 41,000 fishing licences and successfully prosecuted nearly 730 anglers for fishing without a licence.

You must purchase a fishing licence to fish in England and Wales. Annual licences start from £30 and can be purchased online, or by phone. More information can be found on the government website.

The Environment Agency's fisheries' annual report 2021-22 reveals how nearly £22 million in rod licence income, achieved through almost 935,000 fishing and licence sales, has been spent during 2021 and 2022, to enhance and protect England's fisheries.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807 060, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.