A warning has been issued to illegal anglers on waters across Gedling borough as the Environment Agency undertakes a month of patrols to target poachers and those fishing without a licence.
Operation LUNGFISH is underway to protect fisheries from harmful activity including theft and fishing with illegal traps.
Enforcement officers from the Environment Agency can be joined by the Angling Trust, Voluntary Bailiffs and local police officers to conduct patrols around rivers, lakes and ponds.
Operation LUNGFISH has carried out a range of action around the country in its first two weeks:
In the West Midlands illegal crayfish traps have been seized.
In the South East an EA patrol team were joined by the Sussex Rural Police crime team and the Voluntary Bailiff Service (VBS) to conduct an enforcement blitz, as they visited over 40 venues to check 650 licences and issued 64 offence reports
In the North East 214 licences were checked, 21 anglers reported for fishing offences – with another five people reported for offences across Durham, Northumberland, Washington and South Tyneside
Patrols in Lincolnshire, conducted with the East Midlands Wildlife Crime Group and The Angling Trust, checked 118 licences with sixteen notices being served for fishing offences
Heidi Stone, Environment Agency fisheries partnerships manager, said: “We encourage everyone to give fishing a go this summer and throughout this month, existing fishing licence holders can take a friend fishing by applying for a free day licence.
“As law abiding anglers know, illegal fishing and anti-social behaviour on our banks is not only harmful to fish populations, but can also have a detrimental effect on the environment and surrounding wildlife.
“We are working closely with our partners on Operation LUNGFISH to ensure that fishing licence income is used to protect fisheries and make angling a great experience for all.”
To purchase or re-new your fishing licence please visit: Buy a rod fishing licence – GOV.UK.
