Angler lands 拢443 fine after fishing illegally in Suffolk
Andrew Ferns, 33, of Johnson Place, Stoke-on-Trent was caught fishing without a licence on 17 July 2023 on the River Stour at Stratford St Mary.
An Environment Agency Fisheries Officer conducting patrols by the river
Mr Ferns鈥� case was heard at Hastings Magistrates Court on 12 January 2024. The court fined him 拢220 and ordered him to pay an 拢88 victim surcharge.聽 He was also ordered to pay 拢135 in costs. The 拢443 fine imposed is considerably more than the current price of a 拢53.70聽fishing licence.*
Lesley Robertson, Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency said, 鈥淭his case shows we take illegal fishing seriously and won鈥檛 hesitate to pursue offenders through the courts where anglers break the rules. Anyone found fishing illegally may face prosecution and a fine of up to 拢2,500.
鈥淎ll anglers need a valid Environment Agency fishing licence. The current price of an adult 12-month trout and coarse 3-rod fishing licence is 拢53.70 and not having one proved very costly for Mr Ferns.鈥�
鈥淥ur Fisheries Enforcement Officers carry out intelligence-led enforcement work all year round.聽 We urge anyone with information about illegal fishing to contact us on 0800 807060 or via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.鈥�
Licences now run 365 days from the day of purchase offering 12 full months of fishing.
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. A 1-day licence costs from just 拢7.10 and an annual licence costs from just 拢35.80. Concessions are available. Junior licences are free for 13- to 16-year-olds.
For more information or to buy a fishing licence visit the聽天美影院 website聽or call the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386.
The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by police forces and the聽. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities should report it to our incident hotline number 0800 807060. You can also report it to聽聽anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Notes to editors
*拢53.70 is the cost of a 12-month trout and coarse 3-rod fishing licence.
颁丑补谤驳别蝉:听听听听听
Ferns entered no plea and was found guilty of breaching Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 at Hastings Magistrates鈥� Court on 12 January 2024.