The EA report:
Last month the bailiffs visited 35 sites across Yorkshire, questioned 367 anglers and reported 23 anglers for offences – the main offence was fishing without a licence.
The new season started on Sunday (16 June), and the Environment Agency organised a three-day river blitz to check if people enjoying the first day had the correct licence to fish. The areas targeted were ones with a reputation for having a high evasion rate and were chosen thanks to intelligence supplied to the Environment Agency.
The blitz has prompted enforcement officers to repeat their advice for anglers to make sure they have a rod licence otherwise they will be caught and prosecuted.
Peter Mischenko, fisheries technical officer for the Environment Agency said:
“The first day of the new season is traditionally one of the most popular fishing days of the year, so we decided to patrol some of the areas identified as possible illegal hot-spots in case people were out without having the correct licence.
We are out in all weathers checking rod licences and we work with angling clubs and the police to protect our fisheries, so there is no hiding place for people who cheat honest anglers.”
The results of the blitz on 16 to 18 June were:
North Yorkshire
24 locations visited, 273 anglers questioned and 19 people will be pursued for offences
East Yorkshire
8 locations visited, 74 anglers questioned and 3 people will be pursued for offences
South Yorkshire
2 locations visited, 20 anglers questioned and 1 person will be pursued for offences
West Yorkshire
One site was visited but no anglers were checked in West Yorkshire on this occasion
