Rod
licence evasion continued to fall for the third year in a row as less than 600
anglers were caught fishing without a rod licence by Environment Agency
officers over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
“Enforcement teams made checks on 10,183 anglers at 928
waters across
and
between May 26 – 28 and caught 595 illegal anglers who were cheating honest
anglers,†explained Environment Agency Head of Fisheries Dafydd Evans.
“Our officers directed maximum effort to rivers and lakes
where we believed cheats would be present. People who fish without a licence
are cheating the system and their fellow anglers. Rod licence fees are
essential in improving and maintaining our fisheries. Last year we invested approximately £29 million in fishing, with £19
million of this coming from rod licence fees paid by anglers.â€
Fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish and eels in
have a licence is an offence. Those caught fishing illegally face tough
penalties, including fines of up to £2,500 and a ban from fishing.
However, the message is sinking in with evading anglers, as
the rate of evasion has dropped from 7% in the May 2005 blitz to less than 6%
this time round. A small number of anglers believed a licence was valid
for 12 months from the date of purchase. This is not case. All rod licences
expire on March 31.
For 2007/2008 a full season coarse and trout fishing licence
costs just £24.50 and a salmon and sea trout licence costs £66.50. There is
also a range of concessionary, junior, eight-day and one day licences. The
almost three million people who receive Disability Living Allowance in
Buying
a new licence couldn’t be easier – around 15,000 Post Offices and other outlets
sell them; a direct debit can be set up, and they can be purchased over the
phone (0870 1662662) or on-line at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence
any time, day or night.
