Anglers across the country are getting ready for the start of the coarse fishing season on rivers beginning this Wednesday (16 June).
The Environment Agency is reminding anglers that they must have a valid rod licence to fish and that fishery bailiffs will be on patrol. Anyone caught fishing without a rod licence or breaching other byelaws could be fined up to £2,500.
In the East of England and Lincolnshire almost 240,000 rod licences were sold last year, with Environment Agency bailiffs checking nearly 20,000 anglers for licences at 4,000 locations. The Agency was pleased to find that that over 97% of anglers checked had valid licences, with the money raised through rod licence sales invested directly in fisheries work that benefits all anglers.
Roger Handford, Environment Agency Regional Strategic Specialist Fisheries said: “The new season on rivers remains an exciting date in many anglers’ diaries. We are working hard to protect and improve the fish stocks in all our rivers.
“Income from rod licence sales is reinvested into our fisheries work and providing improved angling facilities. Last year we spent over £500,000 on projects, with a similar amount planned to be spent this year.”
Throughout the East of England and Lincolnshire there are varied and interesting fishing opportunities included in the Environment Agency’s ‘Where to Fish Guide’ which gives details of local fisheries and angling clubs. This can be downloaded from www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fisheries.
Rod licence fees are essential in improving and maintaining fisheries. The Environment Agency has recently undertaken work on the River Ise, Great Eau and Staithe Beck, which includes a new spawning habitat and fish passes for eels and other species.
The Agency has created a new fishery for angler coaching in Peterborough, in partnership with the Nene Park Trust, and is studying in detail the fish stocks in the River Welland and investigating the impacts of silt and sediment with the Game Conservancy Trust and the newly formed local Rivers Trust.
In addition, the Environment Agency has recently been undertaking work on the River Stour in Essex; this has included installing fish passes for eels and other species.
The Agency has improved access for anglers on the Norfolk Broads by constructing new angling platforms, and is studying the behaviour and survival of roach and barbel stocked into the River Wensum in order to understand where these species spawn and how they are affected by activities such as weed cutting and sluice operation.
The Environment Agency has also worked closely with South Cambridgeshire District Council to improve 2km of habitat on the river Cam and has installed new easy access angling platforms on the Upper Ouse near Milton Keynes.
20 barbel have been electronically tagged on the Great Ouse as part of a detailed investigation by Hull International Fisheries Institute. The fish will be tracked over the next two years to see where they live, and the habitat they prefer at different times of the year.
An annual rod licence for the 2010/11 season costs £27 for non-migratory trout and char and freshwater fish and eels or £72 for salmon and migratory trout. Concessionary licences, which cost £5, are available to juvenile anglers (aged 12-16). Anglers under 12 do not require a licence.
Anglers over 65 and anyone with a Blue Badge parking concession or in receipt of Disability Living Allowance also pay the concessionary adult rate of £18 (non-migratory trout and char and freshwater fish and eels) and £48 (salmon and migratory trout).
One and eight-day licences for occasional anglers are also available for £3.75 and £10.
Licences can be bought using a credit or debit card by calling the Environment Agency’s telesales line on 0844 800 5386. Alternatively, they can be obtained from any Post Office or via the internet at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence
