David Norman, 36, had a rod licence to fish using up to 2 rods. But he received a penalty of £389 for fishing without the correct licence to cover the number of rods he was fishing with at Marchamley Pool on 21 May.
The case was brought by the Environment Agency to Northampton Magistrates Court on Monday 26 September. The penalty of £389 includes a fine of £220, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £34.
Nichola Tomlinson, Fisheries Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:
David Norman has been rightly punished for fishing illegally in Hodnet, Shropshire in May this year. This case shows how seriously the courts take these offences and we hope the high penalty will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing without a licence.
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, to check on cases of illegal fishing.
Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefitting anglers and, for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or stillwater needs a valid licence to fish. A 1-day licence costs from just £6, and an annual licence costs from just £30 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds. Licences are available from www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
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 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Background
David Norman was charged with the following offence:
On 21 May 2022 at Marchamley Pool, Hodnet, in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
He was fishing with 3 rods with only a 2 rod licence; a 3 rod licence is available to purchase.
