Today we name eight people from the North East and North Yorkshire, who have been caught fishing illegally and will pay fines hundreds of times more than the cost of an annual licence.

Offences prosecuted by the Environment Agency, took place across the region and mainly relate to fishing during the close season and fishing without a licence.

The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust.

Paul Caygill, Fisheries Enforcement Officer at the Environment Agency, said: “We hope these penalties send out the message to others that illegal fishing is taken seriously and people flouting the law can expect to face enforcement action.

“They could have bought a one-day rod licence to fish for just £6.60 or an annual licence for £33 and avoided both the fine and court process, so this has proven costly for those involved.

“The money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of anglers. Illegal fisheries undermines our efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable into the future.”

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water must purchase a fishing licence to fish in England and Wales.

The people from the region who appeared in court were: 

Flavius-Florin State, 29, of Lawson Street in Wallsend, was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a licence at Fontburn Reservoir in Rothbury on 30 April 2023. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £223.

Dennis Ruddick, 50, of Belsay, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to fishing during the close season and using illegal bait on 29 April 2023, at Alders on the River Tyne at Prudhoe. He was fined £127 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £185.

Keith Fullen, 47, of Tedham Road in Newcastle, pleaded guilty to fishing during the close season and using illegal bait on 29 April 2023 at Alders on the River Tyne at Prudhoe. He was fined £115 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £181.

Steven Asquith, 43, of Broadway in York, pleaded guilty to fishing for freshwater fish during the close season and using an illegal bait on 4 May 2023 on the River Derwent at Stamford Bridge. He was fined £127 and ordered to pays costs and a victim surcharge totalling £100.

Jacob Oakley, 27, of Wayfarings Close in Norton, Malton, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence on 17 March 2023 at Raker Lakes in Wheldrake. He was fined £40 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £66.

Niculita Radu, 33, of Prescott Street in Darlington, was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a licence on 5 May 2023 at Derwent Reservoir in Consett. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £223.

Christopher Round, 43, of Esk Street in Gateshead, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence on 29 May 2023 at Aldin Grange, Bear Park in Durham. He was fined £146 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £108.

Lee Trainer, 29, of Rockferry Close in Stockton-on-Tees, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence, fishing during the close season and using illegal bait on 27 May 2023 at Bowesfield on the River Tees. He was fined £133 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £103.

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Annual licences start from £33 and can be purchased online or by phone, more information can be found here. You can buy a one-day, eight-day or 12-month licence online, with the added benefit of the option to have a digital licence, saving postage costs and allowing more money to be spent on fisheries.

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.