Here we have some very interesting data as supplied by the Environment Agency.
Geographical Facts
Length of main river – 36,000km
Length of canal – 2,800km
Length of coastline – 4,240km
Area of coastal waters (to 6 nautical miles) – 3.6 million hectares
Number of lakes and reservoirs greater than 1 hectare – 6,000
Fisheries: Key Facts
Number of principal salmon rivers – 68
Number of principal seatrout rivers – 79
Number of native fish species – 32
Number of introduced species – 10
Number of licensed anglers – 1.1 million (approx.)
Fishing clubs in England and Wales – 5,000 (approx)
Number of licensed salmon/seatrout netsmen – 547 licensees, 945 endorsees
No. of licensed eel nets/traps – 3,959
Length of EC designated fisheries – 13,153km salmonid, 6,492km coarse
Number of salmon caught in1999, rods 12,498, nets 34,159
Number of seatrout caught in 1999, rods 46,838, nets 40,011
Income – rod licences, £ 14.3 million, net licences £ 220,000, grant-in-aid £ 7.4 million
Fisheries: examples of work undertaken
Consents to stock fish and byelaw consents issued – 6,500
Fishing licences issued – 1.14 million
Length of river surveyed per annum – 6,750 km
Licence checks undertaken – 220,000
Fisheries prosecutions – rod licence 3,200, byelaw/other 321, serious poaching 57
Requests for advice dealt with – 5,246
Emergency fish rescues undertaken – 187
Fish mortalities – responded to 717
Habitat improvements: fish passes/fish screens built – 30,
other physical improvement contracts – 205
