|
|
New-look fishing licence to smash record
 A record number of people are set to buy the new-style rod licence to fish freshwaters in England and Wales in 2009. More than one million people bought a licence in 2008, but this year numbers are expected to be even higher. If you are caught fishing without a licence you
can be fined up to £2,500
Benefits of the new-look rod licence
The Environment Agency is switching to a membership card style licence, replacing the old-fashioned paper version which has changed little since it was introduced in the 1860s.
The new credit card sized licences:
• are water resistant
• feature fewer personal details, reducing the risk of identity theft
• feature a barcode, making it possible to verify licences on the riverbank
These changes make the new rod licence cheaper to administer, freeing up more licence money to improve fisheries. Mat Crocker, Head
of Fisheries at the Environment Agency said: "The new-look rod licence will deliver real benefits to anglers. "The system is now cheaper
and quicker to administer - which allows us to spend more licence money on habitats improvements and fish stocking, while keeping
the increase in rod licence fees to a minimum."
Record numbers in 2009
A record 1.3 million people bought a rod licence to fish freshwaters in England and Wales in 2008. A further 26,000 people are expected
to buy a licence this year as the downturn forces people to look for cheaper forms of entertainment. Rod licences vary in price from
just £3.50 for one day’s coarse fishing to £70 for a year’s salmon fishing. to purchase your rod licence for 2009. Mat Crocker
added: "Angling is more popular now than ever, and we expect to see even more anglers on the banks in 2009, as people tighten their belts and look for credit crunch-friendly entertainment."
If you are caught fishing without a licence you can be fined up to £2,500
|
