Chris Middleton, Fisheries Technical Officer, East Anglia explains how fishing licence income is reinvested in fisheries across England
Have you ever wondered how the Environment Agency invests fishing licence income? It is certainly something I often get asked by anglers and clubs here in East Anglia.
Whenever this question comes up, one of the best examples I can give is the Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP), designed to reinvest licence holder’s money into projects which benefit fisheries and anglers across the country.
I have been lucky enough to have worked on FIP projects since the programme’s establishment in 2015, and have seen first-hand the benefits it can bring about, not only to angling but to wider habitat improvement.
Within the programme, the Environment Agency and partners have improved long stretches of river and hundreds of hectares of stillwaters across the country. Over the past 12 months, more than £3.5 million has been invested through FIP, funding more than 100 projects, including habitat conservation to protect fish species and boost stocks, and improving accessibility by creating new fishing platforms, pathways and car parking.
Ultimately these projects are about improving the environment for anglers and creating new opportunities. As a snapshot, since FIP was established, we have completed around 850 projects across the length and breadth of the country, with £6 million invested from fishing licence sales alone.
We have worked with hundreds of different partners such as the local Rivers Trusts, the Wild Trout Trust and the Canal and River Trust. Angling Clubs can get involved too - many projects are completed with the help and assistance of local anglers.
What really makes a difference is the match funding partners can bring to a project: they can apply for external grants or connect us with volunteers who are willing to use their free time to give back to the community. We are delighted to have received £2.9M in total match funding this year. It is also great to recognise that over the last 5 years we estimate the amount of match funding has been in the region £11.5M. Therefore, the total value of our investment has more than tripled, delivering significantly more benefits for fish and for our local anglers!
The variety of improvements are diverse, but some typical projects supported through FIP include:
- restoring natural features in rivers and streams such as meanders and gravel riffles to improve habitats;
- providing reeds, cover, and refuges to help fish spawn, feed and evade predation;
- designing and installing fish passes and small weir removals.
In my patch of East Anglia, we spent almost £55,000 in 2021/22 on 16 local projects. The money has certainly been put to good use…
- Working with Verulam Angling Club and Bedford Internal Drainage Board in Bedfordshire, we have nearly completed restoring a stretch of the River Ouzel. This has involved creating new natural berms (mounds of soil designed to blend into the landscape) and coir rolls (designed to vegetate and stabilise the riverbank). The natural berms will help fish spawn by narrowing the channel and increasing the flow of the river, while their steepness will help create a safe area for anglers to fish from. This will be supported by the coir rolls which will help control further erosion.
- At Skylark Lakes in Cambridgeshire, we installed large fishing platforms which have enabled anglers to stay overnight. We have also used the funding to thin vegetation to provide better angling access and to allow light onto the lake which encourages marginal plants to grow.
- Funding has been used to complete a partnership project on the River Cam in Essex with Audley End Fly Fishing Club. The project provides refuge for young trout, invertebrates and other fish species, as well as creating varying flows throughout this section of the river and increasing channel velocity to create in-channel diversity.
Every penny we receive in fishing licence money is reinvested into angling. The Fisheries Improvement Programme is all about using some of that money to improve fisheries, fish stocks and fishing, benefitting anglers up and down the country.
By deciding to take up fishing and buy a licence, anglers will be contributing to fantastic local outcomes that will ultimately enhance their experience. The more people who go fishing, the more projects we can deliver!
5 comments
Comment by Michael Thompson posted on
I see precious little mention about the North West of the UK. My local river (River Dean in Handforth) is declining rapidly but nothing is done about its condition, Whilst I know money is important, the various agencies mentioned all require others to step up. Why are these agencies there if they have to wait for others to act?
Comment by John Sheppard posted on
Would it be possible to receive a grant to run an electrical cable for aeration to our fishing lake in Devon
Comment by eileenroffe posted on
Good afternoon, Rod licence sales are the main source of income for our fisheries work. All of the money we receive through rod licensing goes towards this.
The main work areas are:
regulation (rod licence sales, enforcement of illegal fishing and disease control)
fisheries monitoring and surveys to identify areas in need of improvement
stocking fish to help restore populations
habitat restoration and improvement (including fishery development and installing fish and eel passes)
fish rescues
promotion, advice and support of anglers and angling clubs
Rod licence income is vital for us to continue maintaining fisheries.
Area teams may be able to assist and if you email our email management unit with the location and the request you can enquire if any funding is available: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk - please state that you have been advised to do this via the blog and request it be forwarded to the area fisheries team - ^Eileen
Comment by Alex posted on
Do you help with draining. Lakes downs and desilting etc..?
Comment by eileenroffe posted on
Good morning - as a Government Agency we are non-for profit any monies we receive from the Government/DEFRA are used for EA related projects/services - if you require advice/guidance please email us at: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk - Eileen