3,500 Licence Dodgers Nicked

In the financial year 2003/04 the Environment Agency prosecuted 3,489 people for rod licence offences.

The total fines for the year were £ 212, 633, with costs of £ 203, 730 awarded to the Agency. On average, each angler paid £ 119 for an unlicensed fishing trip, with the average fine at £ 61 and the average costs at £ 58.

In the final month of the year there were 320 successful prosecutions, up almost 40 on February. The fines for March totalled £ 18, 642, almost £ 2,000 more than the previous month, with costs of £ 18, 865 awarded to the Agency. The month’s highest fine was £ 225 for a defendant at Gray’s Magistrates’ Court, with the highest costs of £ 450 awarded at Beverley Magistrates’ Court in the North East.

With the Rod Licence funding Fisheries improvements right across England and Wales, licence evasion is becoming less acceptable amongst anglers, as most choose to invest in the future of their sport and remain on the right side of the law.

Dafydd Evans, the Agency’s Head of Fisheries, said, “With the new full licence season underway we hope that people will take the opportunity to purchase their licence straight away and get out there to enjoy the pleasures of fishing early in the year and the good value the licence gives.

“As these statistics show, it is simply not worth fishing without a licence, with the highest licence fee at £ 62 and the average cost of an unlicensed fishing trip over the past year at £ 119. In addition to setting yourself up for a fine, you will also be depriving your fellow anglers of the valuable fisheries revenue that your licence fee would provide.”

Buying a licence couldn’t be easier – there are around 17,000 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.

Prices 2004/05 – valid from 01 April 2004 to 31 March 2005