Man of Byron Close, Newark found guilty of fishing illegally at River Trent, Newark Dyke

A Newark angler has been fined over £700 for fishing illegally.

Ramunas Zukauskas, 32, of Byron Close, Newark was found guilty of fishing illegally on two counts in a case brought by the Environment Agency.

He was found guilty in absence at Northampton Magistrates Court on January 15.

He was fined £731 for leaving his fishing rod in the water and for fishing without a licence at the River Trent, Newark Dyke on July 1, 2023.

The penalty includes fines of £220 and £200, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £176.

Following the verdict, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We hope the penalty this illegal angler has received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws we have in place across England.

“Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.

“Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable.

“Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers.”

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish.