UK Fishers Online

All your online fly fishing resources in one location

Anglers’ Rod Licences Save Fish Lives (May 2008)

Mergus MerganserFish at Hales Pool in Cheadle, Staffordshire, will have a safer and more peaceful life next winter as a result of a new fish refuge built by the Environment Agency and Cheadle Angling Club.

The fish have been falling victim to an increasing number of goosanders (Mergus Merganser), fish eating birds that come to Britain from Scandinavia to spend the winter.

These birds hunt in packs, forming a line to drive fish to one end of the pool, then feasting on as many of the trapped fish as they can. We have received reports of regular visits by about twelve of the birds to Hales Pool, and occasionally as many as thirty turn up to hunt at any one time.

Goosanders are protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and Hales Hall Pool is a Local Nature Reserve so deterring the birds is very difficult. Small fish are being killed in great numbers and it is possible that a whole year’s young will be wiped out.

Fisheries Technical Officer, Mick Buxton, says “So many fish were being killed that we had to do something to help. Over the last three years the Environment Agency has provided funding to build fish refuges at a number of fisheries which have this problem, including Hales Pool. We can carry out this life-saving work only thanks to the anglers who provide the money for it by buying rod licences.

“A fish refuge is a floating island with cages beneath. It is planted with indigenous rushes and plants and, once established, looks completely natural. More importantly, there are masses of root systems below where fish can escape the predators.  It won’t stop all the fish from being eaten but at least some will survive for the regeneration of the fishery.” 

The Finished JobAnyone aged 12 years or over who fishes for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England and Wales is required by law to have an Environment Agency Rod Fishing Licence. Rod licences differ from permits (often referred to as tickets or day tickets) which give permission to fish a particular water or waters and are issued by fishery owners.

The onus in law is for the angler to prove he was licenced to fish at the time of the incident. If he fails to do so, he is liable to be convicted for the offence of fishing with an unlicensed instrument.

A rod licence entitles you to fish with up to two rods and line at the same time for coarse fish and eels, but with only one rod and line for trout, sea trout, char and salmon. Always check club rules and local byelaws regarding the rod limit on the water you intend to fish. Additional licences are required if you fish with more rods, where byelaws and rules permit.

You can buy Full, Junior, 8-day and 1-day licences from our website www.environment-agency.gov.uk. You can also buy a rod licence from any Post Office in England and Wales, or on our telephone sales line: 0870 1662 662. From March to October the telephone line is open 8 am - 8pm every day, and sells all licence types.

Money from the sale of licences helps to fund our work managing fisheries. If you are caught fishing without one, you are cheating other anglers and could be fined up to £2,500.

 

Return To Miscellaneous Articles