Rod licence cash used to help dozens of 'angling related' projects
The money has been invested across the South West thanks to the Environment Agency's Fisheries Improvement Programme
The money paid by anglers and those fishing on our region's waterways is going towards dozens of 'angling-themed projects', the Environment Agency has revealed.
Their cash is going towards projects all across the South West - including Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall - as part of their 'Fisheries Improvement Programme'.
In Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire, 13 projects have received a share of more than ÂŁ40,000, whilst schemes in Devon and Cornwall has seen ÂŁ36,000 worth of funding.
Of the projects, better habitats, oxygen meters and platforms for disabled anglers are just some here in the West Country which have helped by the programme, which has supported 220 projects with ÂŁ925,000 of funding across England.
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 1000 projects have been successfully completed, with a total of nearly ÂŁ7 million reinvested from fishing licence sales alone.
Every single penny received by the Environment Agency through fishing licences is reinvested to protect angling and support England's waterways - with the FIP cash matched by local partners.
In 2022, the estimated value of match funding - made up of additional cash and in kind contributions - is estimated by the Environment Agency to add up to around ÂŁ6.3 million.
Mike Holland, fisheries officer for the Environment Agency, said: “Anglers often ask us about how we spend the money raised from the sale of fishing licences. The FIP is a prime example of the wide range of activities this income pays for to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries.
“All of the projects we fund must demonstrate benefits for anglers. The FIP allows us to identify and invest in work supporting a local, sustainable future for angling.
“The programme is also a great demonstration of our partnership efforts, with many of the projects completed with the support of landowners, local businesses and fishing clubs – it’s a real team effort. The more people who go fishing, the more we can invest.”
Projects supported by the FIP in 2022/23
Examples of projects supported by the FIP initiative include:
- Dorchester and District Angling Society - upgrading the existing facilities, including all 15 angling platforms to make them more accessible
- Weston Angling Association - to purchase a new oxygen aerator and oxygen probe to detect issues for the aquatic life
- Wiltshire Wildlife Trust - planting of key plant which provides food and shelter to a variety of water species - the Avon Ranunculus
- Rivers Deer and Claw - the Environment Agency, Westcountry Rivers Trust and local angling associations, carried out out a range of work to improve bankside habitats and increase trout and grayling numbers in the Deer and Claw
- River Lyn fishery, near Watersmeet - to create new 'eye-catching' signage to inform people about the salmon life cycle, and encouraging more people to fish in the river
- Marazion Angling Club - refurbishing the many pegs and adding aquatic plants to the habitat
- Par Fishing Club - refurbishing a number of pegs with a new sustainable material
- River Inny - Westcountry Rivers Trust, the Environment Agency and Launceston Angling Association implementing a 'range of river habitat improvements'
- Chard Angling Club - a range of habitat improvements to Perry Street Pond Fishery, clearing wood and brash, and constructing and installing 20 planted floating islands
- Prolonged dry weather resilience - handheld dissolved oxygen meters delivered to a number of local fishing clubs to help them develop their own resilience plans in the event of prolonged dry weather
- Plymouth & District Coarse Angling Club - using FIP cash to buy all of the materials needed to construct a number of new pegs and walkways around their Cadover Fishery
The 2023/24 FIP programme is underway and a variety of new and existing projects are currently being allocated funding.