EA plans to increase rod licence fees incrementally over next three years
Reservoir trout anglers will see their licence rise from £30 this season to £33 next year.
The Environment Agency is proposing to increase fishing licence prices from April 1, 2023.
The increase, set to come into force incrementally over three years, has received support from the Angling Trust, Angling Trades Association, Canal and River Trust and key fisheries stakeholders within the England Fisheries Group. It follows feedback from anglers all over England and is the first fishing licence price increase in six years. The EA says this increase is “to provide vital funds to improve England’s fisheries”.
Under the new proposals, a full salmon and sea trout licence would be hiked from the current price of £82 to £86.10 next year, increasing to £90.40 in 2024, and then up to £93.10 the following year.
Those who fish for non-migratory trout and coarse fish (as required at reservoirs and stillwater trout fisheries) will see their licence fee rise from £30 to £33 next year, then to £35.80 in 2024, and up to £36.80 in 2025. The equivalent single-day temporary licence will rise from £6 currently to £6.60, then to £7.10 and finally to £7.30 in 2025.
Concessionary licences (over 65s and disabled) for trout will increase from £20.00 this year to £22.00 next season and then incrementally up to £24.50 in 2025.
Junior licences (between the ages of 13 and 17) will remain free (children under 13 do not require a licence).
The additional income generated will be invested directly into England’s fisheries, improving the experience for anglers. This includes:
• Maintaining a good quality environment to ensure healthy fish stocks and habitats;
• Conducting enforcement activity to deter illegal fishing and protect fish stocks;
• Investing in partnership working, including attracting match-funding to maximise rod licence income;
• Encouraging more people to get involved in angling;
• Modernising systems such as our continuous payment system and digital licensing.
Heidi Stone, Environment and Business, Partnerships Manager from the Environment Agency said:
“Securing income to fund our fisheries service is one of our highest priorities and we reinvest 100% of fishing licence income to improve fisheries for people, the environment and angling.
“This small increase will be the first for six years and ensures we can continue to undertake our statutory duties to maintain, develop and improve freshwater and migratory fisheries to the level that the fisheries community and our customers expect.”
Jamie Cook, Angling Trust CEO, said: “Nobody likes to see prices rise, especially in these tough times, but it is important that our rod licence income is protected for vital fisheries work.
These modest increases – the first for six years – are necessary to ensure that angling continues to receive professional support from the Environment Agency.
Having announced the full list of proposed prices in the The Gazette and Angling Times, the EA is now inviting comments and objections from across England and Wales until the closing date November 18.
Once the period for objections has closed, the EA says it will respond to comments and objections and invite those commenting to rethink their views.
Objections not removed will be passed to the secretary of state at DEFRA to assess the level of opposition to the planned charges. If accepted, the increase will come into effect from April 1, 2023.
For England, objections can be made here: freshwater.fish@defra.gov.uk along with a copy sent to: fisheries@environment-agency.gov.uk
For Wales, contact marineandfisheries@gov.wales, sending a copy to: Fisheries.Wales@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk