Rod licence cash

Agency reveals where your money was spent in 2017

NEARLY £21 million was generated by rod licence sales in 2016/2017, according to figures released by the Environment Agency.

In its annual report, the EA revealed that approximately 1,191,142 licences were purchased across the financial year – with Yorkshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire providing the most sales and nearly £4,000,000 worth of income.

The report also revealed that £3.2million was spent on investing in fishery projects and £2.7million in gaining partners. As a result, the Environment Agency is now working with 185 authorities to help improve angling in the UK.

Deputy director Kevin Austin, who controls Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment at the EA, said that the future is looking bright with the onset of the new licensing system. He said: “I became Head of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment at a very exciting time.

“During the 2016 to 2017 financial year we listened to anglers and from April 2017 introduced the biggest shake-up to the rod licensing system since the single national licence was introduced in the early 1990s.

“We believe a proposed new pricing structure (the first for seven years) will make it easier for new anglers to get into the sport and give anglers more flexibility in their sport.

“Across the country hundreds of improvement projects have been delivered, supported by an army of unpaid volunteers, and we have helped fund training for over 150 new Angling Trust licensed coaches.

“I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has worked with us to help deliver quality fishing opportunities. Long may we continue to work in this way.”