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Fishing in the close season, without a licence and using an illegal bait has led to prosecutions for two brothers.
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Fisheries enforcement officers clamp down on illegal angling to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable .
Two brothers from Redditch have pleaded guilty at Northampton Magistrates Court to three counts of illegal fishing in cases brought by the Environment Agency on Monday 23 September 2024.
Liam Astley Morris, 19 and Joseph Astley Morris, 21, of Kingsley Avenue pleaded guilty to fishing in the close season, fishing without a licence and using an illegal bait at Cleeve Prior, River Avon, Evesham on 21 April 2024.
The fines
Joseph Astley Morris received a fine of £87 as well as costs of £65 and a victim surcharge of £34. His brother, Liam received a fine of £40, costs of £65 and a victim surcharge of £16.
The annual close season (from 15 March - 15 June) prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England. This helps to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:
These two brothers were not only fishing in the close season, but they were also fishing without a licence and using an illegal bait. We hope their prosecutions will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws we have in place across England.
We urge anglers to respect the close season to help reduce pressures on our fisheries, benefitting fish and the wider environment.
Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency's efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable. Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers.
We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.
Fishing licences
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish. A 1-day licence costs from just £7.10, and an annual licence costs from £35.80 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 - 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.
Fisheries enforcement
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.
The charges
Joseph Astley Morris and Liam Astley Morris were both charged with the following offences:
On the 21st day of April 2024 at Cleeve Prior - River Avon, Evesham fished for freshwater fish in the close season contrary National Byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency Byelaws made on the 12th July 2010 and contrary to National Byelaw 6 confirmed 23rd March 2010 made pursuant to sections 210 and 211 Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
On the 21st day of April 2024 at Cleeve Prior - River Avon, Evesham 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.
On the 21st day of April 2024 at Cleeve Prior - River Avon, Evesham used an illegal bait in connection with fishing with rod and line. Contrary to Byelaw 5 of the Environment Agency Byelaws which were confirmed on 11 May 2001 and made pursuant to Section 210 and Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and Contrary to Section 211 of the said Act.
