 | The angler was caught fishing during the close season by Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officers at Hopyards, near Warwick, on the River Avon. At Northampton magistrates on 23 October 2023, Valentin Boronica, 28, of Bankdale Road, admitted |
committing the offence on 7 May 2023.
He was fined £64, ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim’s surcharge of £25.
The annual close season (from March 15 - June 15) prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England, helping to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks.
Environment Agency officers conduct patrols to ensure anglers respect this no fishing period.
Following the verdict, Nichola Tomlinson, Fisheries Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:
“This case shows 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 during the close season.
“Our fisheries enforcement team work seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing. For those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.”
The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust.
Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
He was fined £64, ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim’s surcharge of £25.
The annual close season (from March 15 - June 15) prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England, helping to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks.
Environment Agency officers conduct patrols to ensure anglers respect this no fishing period.
Following the verdict, Nichola Tomlinson, Fisheries Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:
“This case shows 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 during the close season.
“Our fisheries enforcement team work seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing. For those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.”
The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust.
Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
RSS Feed
