ANGLING: IGNORING NEW BYLAWS WILL BE A COSTLY ERROR
IMPORTANT new fishing regulations have come into effect and there is now a total ban on taking freshwater eels, whether caught in stillwaters, river estuaries or the sea.
The taking of other species of freshwater fishes is also affected, and it's important the regulations are followed as the fines for those caught ignoring them are on the large side.
The new national bylaws came into force at the beginning of the new fishing season, and anglers are restricted in the number, species and size of freshwater fish they can remove.
The bylaws apply differently on rivers and stillwaters.
On rivers, anglers may only remove up to 15 small fish (up to 20cm) of barbel, chub, common bream, common carp, crucian carp, dace, perch, pike, roach, rudd, silver bream, smelt or tench each day; a maximum of two grayling of 30-38cm (note the slot size); and a single pike of up to 65cm.
Those who remove more or different fish than this, will be committing an offence and risk a substantial fine.
Anglers can still remove 'tiddler' species such as gudgeon, non-native species such as zander, and ornamental varieties of native species such as ghost or koi carp.
Anglers will still need the owner or occupier's permission to remove fish from private waters, while fishery owners may also impose their own stricter rules.
On stillwaters, anglers may only remove fish if they have written permission from the fishery owner.
Someone who takes fish without such permission will be committing a bylaw offence, as well as one of theft.
To protect threatened stocks, all rod-caught eel and shad must be returned to the water alive, including when they are taken from estuaries and coastal waters.
Environment Agency fisheries manager Adrian Taylor said: "These bylaws achieve the right balance — they allow anglers to remove some freshwater fish for the pot or for bait, while still protecting valuable coarse fisheries.
"Stillwater fisheries will also be protected, but fishery managers will have the flexibility to allow anglers to take fish away.
"The Environment Agency wants to work with the angling community to make the most of these new powers.
"Fishery owners and clubs can help us focus our enforcement by providing prompt, accurate information on where and when people are removing fish illegally.
"We also want anglers to spread the word that mandatory catch-and-release is now generally the norm."
The bylaws are available for download from the Environment Agency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
IMPORTANT new fishing regulations have come into effect and there is now a total ban on taking freshwater eels, whether caught in stillwaters, river estuaries or the sea.
The taking of other species of freshwater fishes is also affected, and it's important the regulations are followed as the fines for those caught ignoring them are on the large side.
The new national bylaws came into force at the beginning of the new fishing season, and anglers are restricted in the number, species and size of freshwater fish they can remove.
The bylaws apply differently on rivers and stillwaters.
On rivers, anglers may only remove up to 15 small fish (up to 20cm) of barbel, chub, common bream, common carp, crucian carp, dace, perch, pike, roach, rudd, silver bream, smelt or tench each day; a maximum of two grayling of 30-
Those who remove more or different fish than this, will be committing an offence and risk a substantial fine.
Anglers can still remove 'tiddler' species such as gudgeon, non-
Anglers will still need the owner or occupier's permission to remove fish from private waters, while fishery owners may also impose their own stricter rules.
On stillwaters, anglers may only remove fish if they have written permission from the fishery owner.
Someone who takes fish without such permission will be committing a bylaw offence, as well as one of theft.
To protect threatened stocks, all rod-
Environment Agency fisheries manager Adrian Taylor said: "These bylaws achieve the right balance — they allow anglers to remove some freshwater fish for the pot or for bait, while still protecting valuable coarse fisheries.
"Stillwater fisheries will also be protected, but fishery managers will have the flexibility to allow anglers to take fish away.
"The Environment Agency wants to work with the angling community to make the most of these new powers.
"Fishery owners and clubs can help us focus our enforcement by providing prompt, accurate information on where and when people are removing fish illegally.
"We also want anglers to spread the word that mandatory catch-
The bylaws are available for download from the Environment Agency website at www.environment-