CATCH OF THE DAY: ILLEGAL ANGLERS IS FINED €1000 AS ENVIRONMENT AGENCY CONTINUES TO PROSECUTE

08/03/2005 - A Midlands angler was fined £1000 and ordered to pay £300 costs after he was found guilty of catching salmon during a period when salmon were not permitted to be caught and killing the fish after landing them on the bank. The number of successful prosecutions of illegal anglers by the Environment Agency for rod fishing licence offences was 625 in January 2005. Fines for the month totalled £38,588 with costs of £37,718 awarded to the Environment Agency.
The highest number of successful prosecutions occurred in the Anglian region, which saw over 100 prosecutions concluded in the four-week period. On average, each unlicensed fishing trip cost the angler £120.
Dafydd Evans, the Environment Agency’s Head of Fisheries said ‘We play an important role in the protection of spring spawning salmon and will prosecute anglers who illegally fish for them. 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.
‘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. Those who fish without a licence face tough penalties including fines of up to £2,500 and a ban from fishing.’ They areThey
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 the link displayed.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Rod licences are available from:
1. Every Post Office in England and Wales
2. By telephone (for Full and Junior Concessionary licences only) on 0870 1662 662
3. On-line (for Full, Junior Concessionary, 8-day and 1-day licences only) at the link displayed.
4. Through Direct Debit (for Full and Concessionary licences only) also at the link displayed. There is also a Direct Debit helpline on 01925 542500.
You are eligible for a concessionary licence if:
1. You are aged 12 to 16 inclusive (Junior)
2. You are aged 65 years or over (Senior)
3. You receive:
1. Long-term incapacity benefit
2. Short-term incapacity benefit (at the higher rate)
3. Severe disablement allowance
4. A war pension which includes unemployability supplement

If you have any queries relating to the issue of rod fishing licences, you can contact our National Rod Licence Administration Centre on 01925 542 400 or visit our fisheries pages at the link displayed.
The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency for England and Wales is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), set up under the Environment Act 1995, to take an integrated approach to environmental protection and enhancement in England and Wales. The Agency has major responsibilities for controlling industrial pollution and wastes management, regulation of the water environment, and for protection against flooding from rivers and the sea. The Environment Agency’s primary aim is to protect and improve the environment and make a contribution towards the delivery of sustainable development through the integrated management of air, land and water. Details of the Agency’s functions are available on the Agency’s website.