The Covid angling boom is making 2020 a year that bucks the trends after many downturns for the sport. And with an increase in rod licence sales year-on-year, the EA…
environment agency
Environment Agency fisheries work halted in coronavirus crisis
Funded by rod licence money, anglers are keen to see as much EA fisheries support and enforcement work carrying on, safely. But the Covid-19 outbreak has caused real challenges for…
Covid-19 prevents help after new angling venue’s fish kill
Distraught Robert Rogerson was hoping to open his new Dyehouse Ponds, near Bradford, West Yorkshire, at the start of April. The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown put paid to that…. but…
Environment Agency keeps selling rod licences despite lockdown fishing ‘ban’
Lockdown fishing is a ‘no go’ …but the government agency is still selling rod licences. An EA spokesperson said: “Government guidance is clear. Stay at home, only go outside for…
True state of angling revealed by annual Environment Agency report
There was a drop to 847,846 individual anglers buying an Environment Agency rod licence in 2018-19. That was down from 929,176 for the 2017-18 year, and sits well down from…
£4.5 million scheme ‘will destroy’ prime bream and pike fishing
Natural England hopes to introduce three fish barriers to isolate noted Norfolk Broads venue, Hoveton Great Broad, from the River Bure. Concerns were raised at the start of a 20-day…
1,863 river pollutions… but 0 prosecutions
Official figures show that there were 1,863 unlawful pollution incidents by water companies in rivers in England in those 12 months, but not one was taken to court. Of those…
Rod licence dodgers are on the decline as fear of detection rises
The total number of prosecutions of rod licence dodgers for the 2018/2019 season was 1,691 whereas in 2017/2018 the figure was 2,257. That represents a reduction of 25.1 per cent.…
Fishing Closed Season backlash divides anglers
Many are angry at the outcome of the river fishing Closed Season consultation. Some have questioning the role of the Angling Trust, who they believe should have campaigned for change.…
Rod licence websites clampdown to stop ‘copycats’ overcharging
As many as 10,000 anglers were caught last year by ‘copycat’ rod licence websites. They thought they were getting their licence direct from the Environment Agency but ended up paying…