A SOLIHULL angler has been given a six-month conditional discharge for fishing illegally.
Vasile Bogdan, aged 54, of Barrows Road pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Mereside Fishery, Earlswood, on July 16.
Northampton Magistrates Court handed him a penalty of £339, including a fine of £146, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £58.
The case was taken to court by the Environment Agency earlier this month.
He was one of four cases being heard on the same day for fishing without a licence.
Following the verdict, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We hope the penalties these anglers have received sends out a message to others that illegal fishing is taken seriously and those who flout the law can expect to face enforcement action.
“Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable. Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers.
“Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized.
“We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.”
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish.
Licences are available from www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
