Artist David Miller has designed and produced the new rod licence for salmon and sea trout anglers, which features a sparkling silver sea trout, turning sub-surface, capturing the beauty and energy of this enigmatic quarry.
As the new trout season looms, anglers will be looking to renew their licences, as will newcomers to the sport in England & Wales. David Miler has also painted a golden rudd is depicted on the 2-rod coarse and trout licence and a predatory pike features on 3-rod coarse and trout licences.
Last summer, the Environment Agency launched a campaign to highlight how fishing offers a fun, healthy and safe way to spend time outdoors and reconnect with nature as well as make use of the known wellbeing benefits of the activity. The Environment Agency is hopeful that the trend is set to continue in 2021 as the public are encouraged to see their licence not only a right to fish but as a licence to chill, a licence to connect with nature, and much more.
Licence income is invested in fisheries, including partnerships in large-scale projects to unlock rivers, improve fish passage and create green jobs for young people.
Kevin Austin, Deputy Director Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment at the Environment Agency said: “We hope David’s designs encourage even more people to take up fishing and recognise the beauty of our natural environment and fish species.”
This year, a flagship collaborative project, DNAire, aims to open up over 60km of the river Aire for the first time in 150 year, through the installation of fish and eel passes at Armley, Kirkstall, Newlay and Saltaire are key to this project, and it will engage Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) undergraduates and construction trainees, alongside an environmental conservation apprenticeship to help young people secure employment across the sector.
Annual rod fishing licences – enabling anglers to fish, with the relevant access permission throughout England & Wales – are available from £30. A licence can be bought online at www.gov.uk
Anglers do not need a licence to fish with rod and line in Scotland (apart from in the Border Esk region), only the relevant permission to fish is required. Those wanting to fish in Northern Ireland must have a rod licence and angling permit from either the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) or the Loughs Agency, depending on the area in which they intend to fish.