Ten people from the North East and North Yorkshire have been fined for fishing without a licence.

Fines amounting to just under £10,000, as well as costs and victim surcharges totalling over £11,000, have been handed out to 56 people across the North West, North East and Yorkshire after they were found to have fished illegally on separate occasions.

Offences took place across the region including Leeds, Hull, Rochdale, and Rotherham, with the majority of offences relating to fishing without a license.

Of the 56 names, ten of them came from the region and have been listed below.

Paul Caygill, Fisheries Enforcement Officer at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency takes illegal fishing very seriously, and hopefully, these penalties make clear that for those who flout the law, enforcement will be pursued.

“Simply buying a one-day rod license or an annual license for £6.60 and £33 respectively would have prevented the court process and the subsequent fines – instead they have paid hundreds of pounds more than needed. 

“The money raised from fishing license sales is used to help improve and protect the UK’s fish stocks and fisheries, so we can all enjoy fishing for a long time. Illegal fishing undermines our efforts to make fishing sustainable and achieve this goal.”

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The Environment Agency conducts enforcement work all year round and is supported by the police, as well as the Angling Trust.

Any angler aged 13 or over, must have a fishing license to fish in a river, canal, or body of still water in England and Wales. Annual licenses start from £33 and can be purchased online or via phone. You can find out more about the different types of fishing licenses available here.

Those who have been fined are as follows: 

  • Reece Kapadi of Westbury Street, Stockon-On-Tees was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a license, fishing during close season, and using illegal bait on the 27th May 2023 at Bowesfield on the River Tees. He was fined £350 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £275.

  • Aaron McEvoy of Chapel Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a license on the 30th April 2023 at Fontburn Reservoir, Rothbury. He was fined £220 and order to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £223.

  • Kyle Kapadi of Westbury Street, Stockon-On-Tees was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a license, fishing during close season, and using illegal bait on the 27th May 2023 at Bowesfield on the River Tees. He was fined £350 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £275.

  • Ian Ibbitson, 52, pleaded guilty to fishing without a license on the 7th July 2023 at The Oaks Fishery, Thirsk, Sessay. He was fined £83 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £168.

  • Luke Cartridge, 31, of Pine Grove, Hartlepool was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a license on the 24th July 2023 at Oakland Waters, Snaith. He was fined £60 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £159.

  • Jordan Campbell, 26, of Grange Road, Stockon-On-Tees was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a license on the 16th August 2023 at Woodlands Lake, Thirsk. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £223.

  • Liam Cooperwaite, 36, of King Henry Court, Sunderland was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a license on the 22nd July 2023 at Woodlands Lake, Thirsk. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £223.

  • Paul Hague, 42, of Heath Road, Spennymoor was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a license on the 24th May 2023 at Woodlands Lake, Thirsk. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £223.

  • David Hallas, 42, of Hawthorn Road, Spennymoor pleaded guilty to fishing without a license on the 24th May 2023 at Woodlands Lake, Thirsk. He was fined £140 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £191.

  • Matthew Lake, 21, of Northgate, Hartlepool pleaded guilty to fishing without a license on the 7th July 2023 at Woodlands Lake, Thirsk. He was fined £40 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £151.