TWO Evesham anglers were given a £690 fine for illegal fishing.

The two men were caught fishing without a licence at Manor Farm Leisure in Harvington, near Evesham.

Thomas Dee, 24, and Darius Dee, 21, both of Ellison Close, were found guilty of fishing without a licence in July 2023.

They were each ordered to pay a total penalty of £345, including a fine of £150, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £60.

An annual fishing licence currently costs from £33.

This makes it the second time Darius Dee has been caught after he fished without a license in June 2023.

In that instance, he had to pay a penalty of £339.

Fisheries enforcement officers clamp down on illegal angling to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable. 

Following the verdicts, a spokesperson at the Environment Agency said: “These cases show how seriously the courts take these offences, and all three men have been rightly punished for fishing without a licence.

“We hope the cases act as a reminder to anglers of the importance of having a rod licence before they go fishing and deter them from fishing illegally.

“All of the money raised from rod licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of anglers.  For those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.”

Every year across the country, thousands of anglers are prosecuted for not having a fishing licence.

As well as cheating other anglers, fishing illegally can carry a hefty penalty.

Getting caught without a licence could land a fine of up to £2,500.

Income from rod licence sales is used to fund Environment Agency work to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, including improving habitats for fish and facilities for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage people to give fishing a go.

Any angler aged 13 or over fishing on a river, canal or stillwater needs a fishing license.

A 1-day licence costs just £6.60, and an annual licence costs £33.