Press release

Fine for Falmouth angler caught fishing without a rod licence

Routine checks by the Environment Agency caught a Cornish angler fishing without a rod licence, costing him £249.

Environment Agency staff out on patrol to check anglers have rod licences

Harry Fernihough, 23, from Tresco Place, Falmouth, pleaded guilty to fishing without a rod licence at Wheal Grey in Marazion. He was fined £130 and ordered to pay £67 costs plus a £52 victim surcharge at Swindon Magistrates Court on 17 December 2024.  

Benjamin Pessl, Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, said:

Anyone who thinks ‘I don’t need to buy a rod licence, no one’s going to check� is in the wrong. We do check, regularly, and we prosecute, always. 

Buying a rod licence is not expensive. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappre’s no excuse for not having one.

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. A 1-day licence costs from just £7.10 and an annual licence costs from just £35.80 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 - 16-year-olds. 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. 

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported. 

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Updates to this page

Published 21 January 2025