- A fisherman was arrested in Corley Springs without a valid fishing license
- The case was heard at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on 30 August 2023
- Fishing trials help protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable
A court has imposed fines totaling £443 on a Stafford fisherman for fishing without a license at Chorley Springs, Burntwood, near Lichfield, Staffordshire on 23 April 2023.
At Northampton Magistrates on 30 August 2023, the Environment Agency successfully prosecuted John Smith, 58, of Young Avenue, Stafford.
The case was proven in the defendant’s absence who was fined £220, ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £88.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said:
“We hope that the penalties received by this poacher will act as a deterrent to anyone considering breaching the laws and regulations across England.
“This case shows how seriously the courts take this type of crime, and the fisherman was rightly punished for his illegal hunting this year.
“Illegal fishing can result in a fine of up to £2,500, and violators can also have their fishing equipment confiscated. We check fishing licenses 24/7 to check cases of illegal fishing.
“Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable.
“Money raised from fishing license sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of fishermen, and for those caught cheating the system, we will always go after them.”
Environment Agency enforcement teams continue to ensure that fishermen comply with regulations to protect fish stocks. From 2021 to 2022, fisheries enforcement officers checked just over 41,000 fishing licenses and successfully prosecuted nearly 730 fishermen for fishing without a license.
You must purchase a fishing license to fish in England and Wales. Annual licenses start from £33 and can be purchased online or by phone, more information can be found here: Buying an angling licence: when you need a license – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The Environment Agency’s 2021-22 Annual Fisheries Report reveals how nearly £22 million of fishing license income – generated through nearly 935,000 fishing license sales – was spent over 2021 and 2022 to promote and protect fisheries. in England.
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can call the Environment Agency’s incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The charge
On April 23, 2023, at Curley Springs, Burntwood, at a location where the fishing of freshwater fish or eels using unlicensed fishing gear, namely rod and line, is regulated.
Other than section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.