The Environment Agency in Sussex is planning to ‘blitz’ the riverbanks over the first two weekends in October and is reminding anglers to ensure they are fishing by the rules.
Agency Officers will be patrolling around the clock to catch up with rod licence dodgers. Anglers who are unable to produce the correct paperwork could now face fines of up to £2,500 and forfeiture of equipment if convicted by Magistrates.
Funds raised from rod license sales allow the Sussex Area Agency to invest in the enhancement and restoration of fisheries; protection of native fish species and improving river ecology.
Licences are available at any Post Office branch in England and Wales, online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish or over the phone on 0870 1662662 using a credit or debit card.
Paul Smith of the Agency’s Sussex Fisheries Team said, “Rod licences are easily available, so it is hard to understand why a minority of anglers don’t fish by the rules.
“All the money raised from licence sales is ploughed back into maintaining, improving and developing fisheries; so licence dodgers are cheating their fellow anglers and the future of angling. These funds are vital to enable and increase fishing opportunities for young and old alike.
“Anglers who fail to produce a valid licence and have fished illegally could now face the prospect of a court summons and a fine far in excess of the original cost of a licence.
“The message is, if you fish without a licence you will be caught and you will be fined – it just isn’t worth taking the chance”
All licence types can be bought at any Post Office in England and Wales, and certain types directly from the Agency through its telephone sales line (0870 166 2662) or its new Internet sales service at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish.

·An Environment Agency Rod and Line Licence is required by anyone aged 12 and over who fishes in any waters for freshwater fish.
·Anglers are able to sign up for a Direct Debit to ensure their full licence is renewed automatically after they expire on 31st March.
·Approximately 1.1 million rod licences are sold in England and Wales. The majority (97%) of these licences is sold to anglers fishing for coarse fish and trout, with the remainder sold to salmon and/or sea trout anglers.

ROD LICENCE PRICES 2003/4

NON MIGRATORY TROUT AND COARSE FISH SALMON AND SEA TROUT
Full £22.00 Full £61.00
Junior concessionary £5.00 Junior concessionary £30.50
Other concessionary £11.00 Other concessionary £30.50
8-day £7.00 8-day £18.00
1-day £2.75 1-day £6.00

*Figures on how many anglers have been checked and numbers without licences will be released next week*

Members of the public who see illegal fishing, pollution, flytipping or any other environmental crime should immediately contact the FREE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 24 HOUR HOTLINE ON 0800 80 70 60.