Nine men were charged with fishing without a licence or failing to produce a licence when requested, contrary to the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
All the offences took place on waters in Country Durham over the Spring Bank Holiday in May this year. They were caught as part of a national fisheries enforcement blitz which was widely publicised as taking place over the bank holiday period.
The defendants all pleaded guilty and were:
Mark Harris of Elm Terrace, Catchgate, Stanley, Durham
Michael Heslop of Arnold Road, Farrington, Sunderland
Lee Middleton of West Street, Grange Villa, Chester-le-Street
Andrew McCarthy of Railway Gardens, Annfield Plain
John Ring of Hollow Forth Lane, Woodplumpton, Preston
Neil Somers of Swan Street, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland
Charles Nicklas of Shirley Gardens, Sunderland
Jim Porter of Boynston Grove, Sedgefield
Gary Dale of Glebe Road, Forest Hall, Newcastle
Eight of the defendants were ordered to pay a fine of £ 20 and full costs to the Agency of £ 60. Charles Nicklas was fined £ 50 and no costs were awarded.
After the cases Kevin Summerson, Fisheries Special Enforcement Team Leader for the Agency, said: “We put a lot of resource into catching these cheats and we’re very disappointed at the low level of fines these individuals have received.
“A rod licence would have cost them only £ 22 to purchase, so most of them have actually paid less in fines than it would have cost them to fish legally.
“All these people are doing is cheating legitimate anglers out of further investment in our fisheries as all money raised from rod licences is re-invested.”
Environment Agency rod licences cost £ 22 and are widely available from all Post Offices, over the phone or via the internet. Concessions are available for the under 16s and OAPs.
