Thornbury angler caught fishing without rod licence near Oxford
Fishing near Oxford without a rod licence has left a Thornbury man over £300 poorer.
Enforcement officers regularly visit riverbanks to check anglers have valid rod licences.
Jordan West, 32 from Swallowtail Close, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Linear Fisheries’ St John’s Lake in Stanton Harcourt on 27 April 2024. He was fined £146 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a £58 victim surcharge at Hastings Magistrates Court on 1 August 2024.
Nicholas Robinson, Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, said:
What should have been a fun day of fishing has been spoiled by a big, unexpected bill and all the stress that comes with it.
You must have a rod licence. Because we will come out and check.
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 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
Jordan West was charged with: On 27 April 2024 at St John’s Lake, Linear Fisheries, Stanton Harcourt, 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.