- Angler caught breaking close season regulations on the River Avon near Warwick
- Cases brought by Environment Agency's fisheries enforcement team
- Cases heard at Northampton magistrates court on 23 October 2023
At Northampton magistrates on 23 October 2023, Valentin Boronica, 28, of Bankdale Road, admitted committing the offence on 7 May 2023.
He was fined £64, ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim's surcharge of £25.
The annual close season (from March 15 - June 15) prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England, helping to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks.
Environment Agency officers conduct patrols to ensure anglers respect this no fishing period.
Following the verdict, Nichola Tomlinson, Fisheries Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:
"This case shows how seriously the courts take these offences and we hope the high penalties will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing during the close season.
"Our fisheries enforcement team work seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing. For those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute."
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 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
All income from fishing licence sales is used to fund our work to protect and improve fish stocks, fisheries and the environment.
This includes improving habitats for fish, reinvesting money back to facilities and clubs for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage more people to give fishing a go.
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. A 1-day licence costs from just £6.60 and an annual licence costs from just £33 (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 (except public holidays).
Close Season Information
The coarse fish close season runs from 15 March until 15 June inclusive on rivers, streams, drains, some canals and specified SSSI stillwaters.
Coarse fishing is still allowed on most stillwaters and canals, depending on fishery owner agreement.
You can find out which stillwaters and canals still have a statutory close season in operation by checking the byelaws which apply in your area on gov.uk.
The Charge for Valentin Boronica
On 7 May 2023 at Hopyards, Warwick, on the River Trent, fished for freshwater in the close season contrary to National Byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency Byelaws made on the 12 July 2010.
And contrary to National Byelaw 6 confirmed 23 March 2010 made pursuant to sections 210 and 211 Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
