Blackcountryfishing
  • Home
  • Where to Fish
  • Species
  • Baits
  • Watercraft
  • Tackle Shops
  • Local Canal Guide
  • Angling Clubs and Organisations
  • Licence and Permits
  • Angling News
  • Local Match Results
  • Angling Events
  • Online Videos
  • A Life In Angling
  • Resource Links
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

VOLUNTEER BAILIFFS CARRY OUT 976 PATROLS DURING SECOND NATIONAL LOCKDOWN

11/12/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Members of the Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service (VBS) have continued to help protect fish and fisheries during the Covid-19 crisis, carrying out 976 patrols and reporting 37 incidents of illegal fishing and wider crime to the Environment Agency and Police.
During the second national lockdown from 5th November to the 2nd of December, 144 Volunteer Bailiffs have been able to patrol their local waterways. Thanks to the success of the Angling Trust’s When We Fish Again campaign, fishing was one of the first sporting activities to resume after the first lockdown and allowed to continue during the recent lockdown, although competitions were banned.

The Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service (FESS) received very few notifications of Covid-19 breaches involving organised matches and most were dealt with by the Police by way of a warning. Comprehensive advice of what was allowed was widely circulated to Angling Trust members, the wider angling community and the Police in advance of the lockdown which avoided many misunderstandings.

Nino Brancato, National Enforcement Support Manager, said:

“We are really grateful that fishing was allowed to continue during Lockdown 2 which is a testament to the work put in by the Angling Trust’s When We Fish Again campaign. Anglers once again demonstrated that they could continue with the sport they love in a safe and sensible manner, and the Voluntary Bailiff Service continued to patrol, helping protect our fish and fisheries by reporting to the Environment Agency and Police any incidents they came across.”

Heidi Stone, Environment Agency Fisheries Manager, said:
​

“The vast majority of people fish with a licence but there will always be some who try to fish illegally. That is why volunteers from the Voluntary Bailiff Service continue to be an invaluable source of information for the Environment Agency, helping us to direct our patrols where they are most needed.
“There has been a huge increase in the number of people taking up or returning to fishing this year since the first lockdown ended. By the end of October, we had sold over one million licences – generating more revenue to invest in fisheries and our angling community.”
​
Incidents of illegal fishing should be reported to the Environment Agency incident number 0800 80 70 60 or the Police on 101 to report a crime that does not require an emergency response or 999 to report a crime in progress.
The Voluntary Bailiff Service is part of the Angling Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service, which is funded from freshwater fishing licence money as part of the National Angling Strategic Services contract with the Environment Agency.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    ANGLING News Articles

    Picture
    Black Country Fishing

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.