 Environment Agency Officers on patrol on the rivers. | Friends caught 'cheating the system' when they went fishing illegally have been handed a court bill of almost £800. John Swali, 29, and Dale Taylor, 30, made the trip from their Birmingham homes to River Avon, Warwickshire. |
But the anglers were busted breaching rules prohibiting them from fishing during the close season. They have now ended up before magistrates after being prosecuted by the Environment Agency.
Nichola Tomlinson, fisheries enforcement team leader at the Environment Agency, said: "A day out fishing for these two anglers in the close season and without a rod licence led to high penalties for this pair of fishermen. The cases show how seriously the courts take these offences and we hope the high penalties will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing without a licence or in the close season.
"We inspect rod licences throughout the West Midlands and work 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing. For those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.
"All income from fishing licence sales is used to fund our work to protect and improve fish stocks, fisheries and the environment. This includes improving habitats for fish, reinvesting money back to facilities and clubs for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage more people to give fishing a go."
Fisheries enforcement officers caught the defendants fishing on Lucy’s Mill, on May 7, Northampton Magistrates' Court heard. Swali, of Hobson Road, Selly Park, and Dale Taylor, of Dornton Road, Stirchley, both admitted fishing in the close season and fishing without a rod licence.
Nichola Tomlinson, fisheries enforcement team leader at the Environment Agency, said: "A day out fishing for these two anglers in the close season and without a rod licence led to high penalties for this pair of fishermen. The cases show how seriously the courts take these offences and we hope the high penalties will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing without a licence or in the close season.
"We inspect rod licences throughout the West Midlands and work 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing. For those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.
"All income from fishing licence sales is used to fund our work to protect and improve fish stocks, fisheries and the environment. This includes improving habitats for fish, reinvesting money back to facilities and clubs for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage more people to give fishing a go."
Fisheries enforcement officers caught the defendants fishing on Lucy’s Mill, on May 7, Northampton Magistrates' Court heard. Swali, of Hobson Road, Selly Park, and Dale Taylor, of Dornton Road, Stirchley, both admitted fishing in the close season and fishing without a rod licence.
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