A man from Frome has been ordered to pay a total of £189 after being caught fishing for freshwater fish or eels without a valid rod licence in Farleigh Wood Pool, in Bath.
Aidan Powell, 22, from Blackberry Road in Frome, was sentenced at Swindon magistrates' court on 28 March. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a £40 fine, £135 in costs and a £14 victim surcharge fee.
James Allan, an Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, said:
Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefitting anglers and, for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.
These anglers disregarded signs at the fisheries that said an Environment Agency rod licence was needed to fish.
Rod fishing byelaws are there to protect fish stocks and their habitats. If you do not comply with these byelaws you could face prosecution and be fined up to £2,500.
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water, needs a licence. A one-day licence costs from just £6 and an annual licence costs from just £30. 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.
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.
Background:
Aidan Powell was charged with:
On 19 November 2023, at Farleigh Wood Pool, Bath, in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. This was contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
