Illegal fishing warning

Anglers are reminded that the coarse fish close season is in operation.

Since the close season began on 16th March, Environment Agency enforcement officers have caught 11 people breaking the law and officers’ activities will be stepped up over the coming Bank Holiday weekends to ensure that anglers have a valid licence and are compliant with national and local bye laws.

The maximum fine for fishing during the close season is £50,000; anyone caught doing so may be prosecuted.

Kevin Summerson, special enforcement team leader at the Environment Agency, says: “This is an important period for us. The close season in our rivers is important to allow the fish time to breed and spawn and so maintain a healthy stock of fish.

“We use intelligence gathered previously to indicate the locations where anglers are likely to be fishing illegally, and we concentrated our efforts towards those areas.”