City angler fined for illegal fishing

FOUR fishermen, including one from Coventry, have been fined thousands of pounds after they were caught fishing illegally.

Fishing without a licence has cost the four anglers over £2,000.

Officials from the Environment Agency said the hefty fine amounted to 70 times the amount they would have paid if they had simply purchased an annual fishing licence.

Laurie Le Beaufay, from Coventry, was caught fishing without a licence. He was additionally fined for not declaring his name and address to an Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officer on Friday, June 3 at Thorney Weir Lakes.

Oprea-mihai Sali and Gheorghe

Papancea were both caught fishing without a licence and during the close season at Brent Reservoir in London. Darren Lightfoot was also caught-red-handed on the River Wandle, near Deen City Farm, Morden.

Having the close season in place allows an uninterrupted spawning period and helps to protect vulnerable species. It also provides an opportunity for the Environment Agency to carry out projects to further enhance habitats vital for improving fish spawning.

Following a case brought by the Environment Agency, Barkingside Magistrates’ Court ordered the four men to pay a combined total of £1,460 in fines, £540 in costs and £179 victim surcharges.

Kye Jerrom, a Senior Enforcement Officer with the Environment Agency, said: “These cases demonstrate that we pursue offenders through the courts and won’t hesitate to take enforcement action where anglers break rules.

“The money raised through the sales of fishing licences is re-invested and enables us to improve all fisheries, including rivers, for anglers. “Anyone found fishing illegally may face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.

“Our fisheries enforcement officers routinely carry out licence checks, and we urge anyone with information about illegal fishing to contact us on 0800 807060.”

Anglers aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water need a licence to fish. A one-day licence costs £6, and an annual licence currently costs £30.

Junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds. Licences are available from www.gov.uk/ get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386.

Around £25 million is raised annually through fishing licences.