THE Environment Agency is implementing major changes, including price increases, to the rod licence system, starting from April 1, 2017.
Amongst the changes are a free rod licence for junior anglers, a rolling rod licence that lasts for 365 days from the day you buy it and a new three-rod licence option.
The announcement follows consultation with anglers on the proposals that were announced back in May
Possibly less welcome is an increase in charges with the main licence going up by a significant 11.1 per cent to £30, with concessionary rate up to £20, but this is the first increase for seven years and there is a commitment to keep the new rate for a minimum of three years.
The one-day licence is going up by a whopping 60 per cent from £6 from the current £3.75, but the eight-day licence designed for holiday anglers’ remains good value at £12 from the current £10.
Another important change is the ability to upgrade from a one or eight-day licence to a full licence with the price of the one or eight-day deducted. This is to encourage more people to keep fishing once they have tried it and will make it cheaper for anglers who currently buy several short-term licences.
The new three-rod licence will cost £45 which represents a significant saving for carp and specimen anglers who until now have had to purchase two separate licences.
The salmon and sea trout licence, that includes coarse fish too, is rising £10 up to £82.
While fishing for juniors aged 12 to 16 becomes free they will still have to register to receive a licence to fish and not having one will still be an offence.
‘Exciting changes to rod licence’ says EA
Sarah Chare, head of fisheries at the Environment Agency, said: “These exciting changes reflect feedback from our customers.
“We hope that they can all play an important part in getting more young people fishing and securing the future of the sport.
“All money raised from rod licence sales is ploughed back into England’s fisheries, and is used to fund a wide range of projects to improve facilities for anglers.”
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