Fishing licences fund project to improve Dorchester angling lake
The Environment Agency's reinvesting cash they get in from anglers
Money raised through fishing enthusiasts being rod licences is being put back into our waterways.
The Environment Agency says they've spent ÂŁ40,000 of anglers' fees on improvements across Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset.
The cash has gone into their Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP), with every penny the Environment Agency receives in fishing licence income reinvested 'to protect both the sport of angling and England’s waterways'.
In Dorset, the money's gone towards an upgrade project for the Dorchester and District Angling Society.
The Environment Agency's said the facilities of Silver Lake were in 'desperate need' of improvements.
15 new angling platforms have provided safe designated areas for fishing, accessible places for disabled or physically impaired anglers and a venue for the club’s rapidly expanding junior section.
Heidi Stone, Environment Agency Fisheries Manager, said:
“The FIP is a great example of how rod licence income is being reinvested, resulting in sustainable fish stocks and directly benefiting angling and local communities. The programme recognises and invests in a wide programme of work to help maintain, improve and develop fisheries.
“Looking to the future, we will continue to work with our partners, angling clubs and fisheries to identify and deliver high quality projects, the more people who buy a licence and go fishing, the more we can invest in this way.”
Since FIP was established in 2015, over 1,000 projects have been successfully completed, with a total of nearly ÂŁ7 million reinvested from fishing licence sales alone.