Rod licence blitz

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Written By: E.A. Press Officer
On Date: 6/5/2006

Nearly 700 anglers were caught fishing without a rod licence by Environment Agency officers over the May Bank Holiday weekend. "Enforcement teams made checks on more than 11,000 anglers at 943 waters across England and Wales between April 29 and May 1 and caught 671 illegal anglers who were cheating honest anglers," explained Environment Agency Head of Fisheries Dafydd Evans.

"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 with evading anglers, as the rate of evasion dropped from 7% in the May 2005 blitz to 6% 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, fish stocks and the waterside environment. We will continue with our blitz programme to bring rod licence evasion down."

Almost 80% 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. The reminder comes after almost £600,000 was paid in fines and costs by more than 4,600 illegal anglers in 2005. On average, these illegal fishing trips cost anglers £128 each in fines and costs. A full season coarse and trout licence costs just £24.

"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," continued Dafydd.
Media enquiries: 020-7863 8710 (five lines), or outside normal office hours, please contact the National Duty Press Officer on pager no. 07659 176157.
Rod licences are available from:

1. Every Post Office in England and Wales (c 15,000)

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 www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence

4. Through Direct Debit (for Full and Concessionary licences only) at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence. There is also a Direct Debit helpline on 01925 542 400.

Anglers are eligible for a concessionary licence if:

Aged 12 to 16 inclusive (Junior)
Aged 65 years or over (Senior)
Have a blue badge
Blue badges are available to those who:

Receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the disability Living Allowance
Receive War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
Are registered blind
Have a motor vehicle supplied for disabled people by a Government Health Department
Have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob
Have a permanent and substantial disability, which means you are unable to walk, or have very considerable difficulty in walking.
Prices 2006/07 - valid from 01 April 2006 to 31 March 2007

Category
Non-Migratory Trout and Coarse
Salmon and Sea Trout

Full Season (expire on 31st March 2007)
£24.00
£65.00

Concessionary
£12.00
£32.50

Junior
£5.00
£32.50

8 Day
£8.50
£20.50

1 Day
£3.25
£6.75

For further information on rod fishing licences, contact the Fisheries Administration Support Team on 08708 506 506 or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish.

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May 05,2006

Yorkshire and North East anglers lead the way
by Elton Murphy

Anglers in Yorkshire and the North East are the most honest, according to the latest figures from the Environment Agency.

A nationwide rod licence blitz was carried out over the May bank holiday and, despite checking the highest number of anglers in this region, the rod licence evasion rate was the lowest in the country.

The evasion rate for anglers in Yorkshire and the North East was 2.52 per cent, compared to a national rate of 5.89 per cent. 2,145 anglers across Yorkshire and the North East were asked to produce a licence, with only 54 people unable to do so.

The evasion rate was highest in the North West at 14.5 per cent, where 63 out of 437 anglers could not produce a licence when asked to do so.

“Nationally, enforcement teams made checks on more than 11,000 anglers at 943 waters across England and Wales between April 29 and May 1 and caught 671 illegal anglers who were cheating honest ones,” explained Environment Agency Head of Fisheries Dafydd Evans.

“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 with evading anglers, as the rate of evasion dropped from 7% in the May 2005 blitz to 6% 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, fish stocks and the waterside environment. We will continue with our blitz programme to bring rod licence evasion down.”

Teams of Environment Agency fisheries bailiffs checked 33 waters in North Yorkshire and Teesside, 24 in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland and 58 in South, West and east Yorkshire in the first of a series of national rod licence blitzes.

Almost 80% 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.

The reminder comes after almost £600,000 was paid in fines and costs by more than 4,600 illegal anglers in 2005. On average, these illegal fishing trips cost anglers £128 each in fines and costs. A full season coarse and trout licence costs just £24.

“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,” continued Dafydd.