Men land big fines after fishing illegally
WARNING TO OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE LICENCES
TWO men have been fined hundreds of pounds after illegally fishing along stretches of the River Soar.
The men were caught violating angling laws in separate offences about a month apart.
Wayne Knight and Lester McManus appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court earlier this month to answer to the charges of illegal angling at locations across Leicestershire earlier this year.
The court heard how Knight, of Prior William Close, in Cosby, didn’t have a valid licence.
Bosses at the Environment Agency, who sought to prosecute the pair, have now issued a warning to anyone else considering flouting the rules.
Knight, 44, was discovered illegally fishing on February 1 on the Soar in Sutton Elms.
Fishing is regulated on the body of water and Knight was found to be reeling in freshwater fish and eels with an unlicensed rod and line – which could have earned him a fishing ban and seen his equipment confiscated.
Instead he was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £135 plus a victim’s surcharge of £34, taking his total up to £389.
McManus, of Braunstone Lane, Leicester, was discovered illegally fishing for freshwater fish at the River Soar in Aylestone on March 24.
The 28-year-old was fishing during the close season, breaking a couple of different byelaws that allow fish time to breed.
McManus was fined £40 and ordered to pay costs of £135 plus a victim’s surcharge of £34, taking his total to £209.
In its rules, the Environment Agency makes clear the maximum fine anyone could get for illegal fishing in the
UK is £2,500.
It also says all anglers require a valid Environment Agency rod licence to fish, with this rule applying to any angler aged 13 or over who is found fishing on a river or canal.
One-day rod licences can cost £6, while an annual licence begins at £30. Junior licences for 13 to 16-yearolds are free.
In the case of McManus, the agency said close seasons apply for a reason, with course fishing prohibited in some of England’s waterways from March 15 to June 15 every year in a bid to protect vulnerable fish stocks.
Speaking after the court hearing, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said the men’s fines made clear taking the risk could become costly.
They said: “These cases show we pursue offenders through the courts and won’t hesitate to take enforcement action where anglers break rules. Anyone found fishing illegally may face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.
“Our fisheries enforcement officers routinely undertake licence checks, and we urge anyone with information about illegal fishing to contact us on 0800 807060.” More information on rod licences can be found by calling 0344 800 5386 or by going online.
These cases show we pursue offenders and won’t hesitate to take enforcement action
Environment Agency