TWO anglers from Coventry have been fined £615 for illegal fishing in Yeovil, Somerset.
A man from Exhall and a woman from Nuneaton were both found guilty of fishing without a licence at Pavyotts Mill Lakes on the same day, with each facing fines and costs.
Mark Varney, 51, of Grant Road, Exhall, was ordered to pay a total penalty of £360, including a fine of £207, costs of £70, and a victim surcharge of £83.
Magdalena Maslak, 48, of Cedar Road, Nuneaton, was ordered to pay a total penalty of £255, including a fine of £132, costs of £70, and a victim surcharge of £38.
Their cases were brought forward by the Environment Agency and were heard at Swindon Magistrates Court on March, 28.
Both admitted to fishing without a licence, an offence which can be avoided with a days fishing licence for £7.10.
A spokesperson at the Environment Agency, said: ”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.
“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.”
Anglers aged 13 and above must possess a valid licence to fish in rivers, canals, or still waters.
Licences are available on: gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by phone from the Environment Agency, with a 1-day licence priced from £7.10 and annual licences from £35.80.
