Environment Agency – Anglers Fined For Having No Rod Licence

Anglers Fined For Having No Rod Licence

 

On Friday 18 April 2008, at Welshpool Magistrates Court, fishing without a valid rod licence cost five cheating anglers a total of £670.00.

With water bailiffs on the look out and prosecutions like this on the increase, this case should send a clear message to anglers that a day’s fishing in the Midlands without an Environment Agency rod licence could prove very expensive indeed. The maximum possible fine for fishing without a licence is £2,500.

Andrew Laird, aged 22 years, of Lon Afallen, Trehafren, Newtown was fined £150, ordered to pay £75 in costs and a victim surcharge of £15. He was convicted of a charge of fishing without a licence. The offence was committed at Glanhafren on the River Severn on 14 October 2007.

Kenneth Aspinall, aged 20 years, of Lon Eithen, Trahafren, Newtown was fined £100, ordered to pay £75 in costs and a victim surcharge of £15. He was convicted of a charge of fishing without a licence. The offence was committed at Glanhafren on the River Severn, on 14 October 2007.

Steven Lewis, aged 29 years, of Kerry Street, Montgomery was fined £150, ordered to pay £75 in costs and a victim surcharge of £15. He was convicted of a charge of fishing without a licence. The offence was committed at Blue Bell Park, Caereinion, on 9 September 2007.

Speaking after the cases, Midlands Strategic Specialist, Martin Cooper, said: “Anglers who fish without a valid rod licence need to be aware that our Water Bailiffs are out and about checking rod licenses. As today’s result demonstrates, sooner or later they are going to get caught and we won’t hesitate to prosecute.

“Not only does a prosecution prove costly, with fines of up to £2,500, it also marks an angler out as someone who cheats his fellow anglers. When you buy a rod licence, the money is used to help fund our work managing fisheries and improving the sport for everyone, work such as re-stocking rivers after pollution incidents. So if you don’t buy a rod licence, you reduce the pleasure of the sport for everyone else.

“The message from this court case is loud and clear – if you haven’t got a valid rod licence, get one today.”