Practical jokes aren’t the only thing to be aware of on 1 April. All current full and concessionary rod licences will expire on 31 March, so if you’re planning to fish in England or Wales over the coming season, now is the time to buy a new one.
Anyone aged 12 years or over who fishes for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England and Wales must have an Environment Agency Rod Fishing Licence.
These are readily available and can be purchased from Post Offices, over the telephone, online and by direct debit.
Fishing without a rod licence is not only illegal, but also deprives other anglers of valuable revenue to help protect and improve resources. As such, licence evasion is taken very seriously and can result in fines of up to £ 2,500. The Environment Agency carries out routine patrols, as well as national blitzes, to deter people from fishing without a licence.
In 2002/3, 1.21 million rod licences were sold, generating over £ 16 million to be spent on protecting and improving fish stocks and improving fishing opportunities. Last year, rod licence fees helped the Agency to:
- Introduce more than 10,000 new anglers into the sport through partnership coaching schemes
- Issue 8,000 fish stocking consents
- Survey 7,500 kilometres of river
- Check 130,000 rod licences
- Deal with 12,000 requests for advice
- Handle 300 emergency fish rescues
- Investigate 500 fish kill incidents
- Build 23 fish passes and screens
- Work with partners on 33 urban fishery restorations
- Manage 100 extra habitat improvement schemes
Dafydd Evans, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency, said: “Rod licence fees are essential in helping us to achieve and maintain high standards in fisheries throughout England and Wales. We are very pleased with the number of licences sold over the past year and hope that these figures will be improved upon over the next 12 months.”
NOTES FROM FISHINGMAGIC
Rod licences are available from:
1. Every Post Office in England and Wales
2. By telephone (for Full and Junior Concessionary licences only) on 0870 1662 662
3. On-line (for Full, Junior Concessionary, 8-day and 1-day licences only) at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence
4. Through Direct Debit (for Full and Concessionary licences only)
You are eligible for a concessionary licence if:
1. You are aged 12 to 16 inclusive (Junior)
2. You are aged 65 years or over (Senior)
3. You receive:
A. Long-term incapacity benefit
B. Short-term incapacity benefit (at the higher rate)
C. Severe disablement allowance
D. A war pension which includes unemployability supplement
Prices 2004/05 – valid from 01 April 2004 to 31 March 2005
Non-Migratory Trout and Coarse £ 23.00, Junior £ 5.00, 8 Day £ 8.00, 1 Day £ 3.00
Salmon and Sea Trout Full Season (expire on 31st March 2005) £ 62.00, Junior £ 31.00, 8 Day £ 19.50, 1 Day £ 6.50
If you have any queries relating to the issue of rod fishing licences, you can contact the National Rod Licence Administration Centre on 01925 653 999 or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish.
