The operation, conducted last weekend, was the first time the EA enforcement team had been out in a boat on the Great Ouse Relief Channel in West Norfolk to tackle illegal fishing and, although they found several people camped in obscure areas, of the 30 anglers checked, only one was found to be fishing without a licence.
The check was in response to information received about individuals fishing from dinghies.
Lesley Robertson, Environmental Crime Team Leader, said:
“This was an extremely valuable day as the boat was seen by many anglers who were all pleased to see us taking this approach.
All anglers need a valid Environment Agency rod licence and we were pleased to find only one person fishing illegally. Norfolk police and the Broads Authority will be out with us at least five more times before the end of November and all of the money the Environment Agency receives from rod licence sales is spent improving fisheries.
People who don’t buy a licence are cheating their sport and other anglers so we urge them to help us crackdown on unlicensed anglers by reporting this illegal activity to us on 0800 80 70 60.”
