Norfolk Illegal Fishing Crackdown Nets Eight Anglers Fined Over £3,000
Eight anglers have been slapped with hefty fines totalling £3,094 after being caught fishing illegally at various spots across Norfolk. Their cases were heard at Hastings Magistrates Court on January 12 and February 16, 2024.
Who Got Caught? Names and Naughty Spots Revealed
- Gary Auger, 52, from Parr Road, Haverhill – caught fishing without a licence at Taswood Lakes, Flordon.
- Stuart Lawn, 36, of Bluebell Road, North Walsham – illegal fishing at Roughton Fishery.
- Aurimas Tazius, 38, Kipling Avenue, Tilbury – unlawfully removed bream from Postwick Reach on the River Yare.
- Others fined included David Denison, Lewis Buxton, Adrian Crowe, Matthew Grant, and Damien Howard, all caught without licences at various Norfolk locations.
Fines and Costs Hit Up to £443 Each
The fines ranged between £191 and £443, with victim surcharges tacking on £16 to £88. On top of that, every offender was ordered to pay £135 in costs, pushing the total penalties over the £3,000 mark.
Environment Agency Cracks Down on Licence Lawbreakers
Lesley Robertson, Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said: “These cases show we take illegal fishing seriously and won’t hesitate to pursue offenders through the courts where anglers break the rules.”
Robertson warned that all anglers aged 13 and over must have a valid Environment Agency fishing licence to fish in rivers, canals, or still waters. Ignoring this can lead to fines reaching up to £2,500.
How to Stay Legit: Get Your Fishing Licence
Fishing licences can be snapped up on the GOV.UK website or directly from the Environment Agency. Options include annual and one-day licences, with concessions available for certain groups.
To help keep illegal fishing in check, the Environment Agency works year-round with police and the Angling Trust, focusing on reported hotspots.
See Something Fishy? Report It Now
If you spot illegal fishing, don’t stay silent. Report it via the Environment Agency’s incident hotline or anonymously through Crimestoppers.
The Environment Agency remains committed to protecting Norfolk’s waterways for wildlife and lawful anglers alike, cracking down hard on licence dodgers and poachers.
