A young angler in Cornwall faces a £250 fine for fishing without a licence, highlighting the importance of following fishing regulations.
He was taken to court after routine checks at Wheal Grey in Marazion. Harry admitted he fished without a rod licence. The court hit him with a £130 fine, plus £67 in costs and a £52 victim surcharge.
If you’re 13 or older, you need a licence to fish in rivers, canals, or still waters. A one-day licence is just £7.10, while an annual one starts at £35.80.
Benjamin Pessl, a fisheries enforcement officer, made it clear: “We check regularly and prosecute those who don’t comply.” He added that buying a licence is affordable, so there’s really no excuse not to have one.
This isn’t the first time someone’s faced fines for fishing without a licence. Last year, Daniel Hoskin from Bodmin ended up with nearly £500 in fines for the same reason. Another angler, William Greaves from St Austell, was fined £40 for fishing without a licence, too.
For those aged 13 to 16, junior licences are free. You can get a licence online or by calling the Environment Agency during business hours.
If you see any illegal fishing, you can report it to the Environment Agency’s hotline or Crimestoppers. It’s important to keep our waters safe and legal for everyone.
