A Ripon man was among 57 anglers fined in an Environment Agency clampdown on illegal fishing in Yorkshire and the north-east.
The anglers, from Yorkshire and the north-east, were fined a combined £18,766 for fishing without a licence.
Paul Nelson, of Water Skellgate, was caught at Three Lakes, Selby, on March 23 this year. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £34.
The cases were all heard at Humber Magistrates Court. None of the other offenders were from the Harrogate district and none of the offences took place on waters in the district.
It is illegal to fish without a licence, which costs £30 a year for coarse fishing and £82 for fly-fishing.
Some defendants were also charged with fishing during the close season, which runs from the March 15 to June 15 to allow fish to spawn.
Paul Caygill, Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, said:
“We’re continuing to see offenders receive significant fines for fishing illegally and, as these cases demonstrate, we will pursue offenders through the courts and won’t hesitate to take enforcement action where laws are broken.
“All anglers need a valid rod licence. The money raised through the sales of rod licences is re-invested back into the sport and illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to make fishing sustainable. Anyone found fishing illegally may face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.
“Our fisheries enforcement officers routinely carry out licence checks, and we urge anyone with information about illegal fishing to contact us on 0800 807060.”
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The Environment Agency, which is a non-departmental public body, carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust.
About £25 million is raised annually through fishing licences. This money pays for stocking waters with half a million fish and improving rivers and fisheries.
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, stream, drain, canal or stillwater needs a licence to fish. Junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds. Licences are available here.
