Environment Agency
- Fishing without a licence and in the close season has cost an angler from Stafford a total penalty of 555
- His friend received a total penalty of 443 for fishing in the close season
- Fisheries enforcement officers clamp down on illegal angling to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable
The anglers cases were brought by the Environment Agency to Northampton Magistrates Court on Monday 23 October.
One of the friends, Liam Davidson, 26, of Milton Grove, Stafford, was proved guilty in absence of fishing in the close season at Doxey Marshes, Stafford on 27 May 2023. He was ordered to pay a total penalty of 443.?The penalty includes a fine of 220, costs of 135 and a victim surcharge of 88.?
Blake Keyte, 24, of Greensome Court, Stafford pleaded guilty of fishing in the close season and to fishing without a licence at Doxey Marshes on 27 May 2023. He was ordered to pay fines of 150 for each offence, 135 costs, and a victim surcharge of 88, to make a total penalty of 555.
An annual fishing licence currently costs from 33. The coarse fish close season runs from 15 March until 15 June each year.
Following the verdict, a spokesperson at the Environment Agency, said:??
We hope the penalties that these illegal anglers have received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws we have in place across England.
Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to 2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. 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.
Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agencys 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.
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 6.60, and an annual licence costs from 33 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 - 16-year-olds.
Licences are available fromwww.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licenceor 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 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Further information
Liam Davidson was charged with the following offence:
On the 27th day of May at Doxey Marshes, Stafford in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish in the close season, contrary to national byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency byelaws made on 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.
Blake Keyte was charged with the following offences:
On the 27th day of May at Doxey Marshes, Stafford 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 27th day of May at Doxey Marshes, Stafford, fished for freshwater fish in the close season, contrary to national byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency Byelaws made on 12th July 2010 and contrary to national byelaw 6 confirmed 23rd March 2010 made pursuant to sections 210 and 211 Schedule 25 of the