More than 96% of anglers checked during the June rod licence blitz in Yorkshire were enjoying their sport legally, according to the latest Environment Agency survey.
Enforcement teams checked more than 15,000 anglers fishing at nearly 2,000 waters across England and Wales between June 16 and 25 and caught 554 illegal anglers.
In the Environment Agency’s North East region (which includes Yorkshire), 70 anglers were caught for fishing without a rod licence.
Fisheries team leader John Shannon said: “Fishing without a licence is an offence and those caught fishing illegally face tough penalties, including fines of up to £2,500 and a ban from fishing. The message is sinking in, as the rate of evasion has dropped from 5% in the June 2005 blitz to around 3% this time round.
“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. Around £19m is raised through rod licences and invested in fisheries work that benefits all anglers, including saving thousands of fish during the recent heatwave. We will continue with our enforcement programme to bring rod licence evasion down even further.â€
Almost 75% of all waters visited had no offences detected. However, a 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.
“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,†added John.
