 | Anglers from the Midlands have been punished by the Environment Agency for flouting fishing rules. Three men have been prosecuted in separate cases after they were caught fishing illegally. |
The three defendants have now been forced to pay a court bill topping £1,300. An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We hope the penalties these illegal anglers have received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws we have in place across England.
"Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. We inspect rod licences 24/7, 7 days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.
"Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable. Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers."
The defendants were prosecuted at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Monday, January 13. Alex Jones, of Jessie Road, Walsall, was convicted in his absence of fishing without a licence at Foxhills Fishery, Great Barr, on July 14, 2023.
The 40-year-old was also convicted in his absence of leaving a rod or line with its bait or hook unattended on the same date. He was ordered to pay a total of £443 for fishing without a licence.
The defendant was fined £220, handed £135 costs and told to pay an £88 victim surcharge for the second offence. Sebastian Kucharski, 36, of Cheltenham Road, Evesham, was convicted in his absence of fishing without a licence at Manor Farm Fishery, Evesham, on August 11 last year.
The 36-year-old was fined £220, ordered to pay costs of £135 and told to pay an £88 victim surcharge. Pavel Pavlov, of Uxbridge Street, Burton-upon-Trent, was convicted in his absence of fishing without a licence at Longford Fishery, Longford, on July 31, 2024.
The 25-year-old was handed a £220 fine and told to pay £135 costs, along with an £88 victim surcharge. All anglers aged over 12 who intend to fish on a river, canal or still water must have a licence.
A one-day licence starts from just £7.10, while an annual licence is priced from £35.80.
"Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. We inspect rod licences 24/7, 7 days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.
"Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable. Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers."
The defendants were prosecuted at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Monday, January 13. Alex Jones, of Jessie Road, Walsall, was convicted in his absence of fishing without a licence at Foxhills Fishery, Great Barr, on July 14, 2023.
The 40-year-old was also convicted in his absence of leaving a rod or line with its bait or hook unattended on the same date. He was ordered to pay a total of £443 for fishing without a licence.
The defendant was fined £220, handed £135 costs and told to pay an £88 victim surcharge for the second offence. Sebastian Kucharski, 36, of Cheltenham Road, Evesham, was convicted in his absence of fishing without a licence at Manor Farm Fishery, Evesham, on August 11 last year.
The 36-year-old was fined £220, ordered to pay costs of £135 and told to pay an £88 victim surcharge. Pavel Pavlov, of Uxbridge Street, Burton-upon-Trent, was convicted in his absence of fishing without a licence at Longford Fishery, Longford, on July 31, 2024.
The 25-year-old was handed a £220 fine and told to pay £135 costs, along with an £88 victim surcharge. All anglers aged over 12 who intend to fish on a river, canal or still water must have a licence.
A one-day licence starts from just £7.10, while an annual licence is priced from £35.80.
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