Does carp angling benefit from the rod licence fee?
Big opinions by key anglers on major events happening within carp fishing - does carp angling benefit from the rod licence fee charged by the Environment Agency?
Alan Blair (Operations Director, Nash Tackle)
“Fishing as a whole certainly benefits from the rod licence fee, however breaking it down into specifically carp angling can be a little more controversial. For sure, if you are fishing public and or club waters for carp then the EA and licence fees are making a difference through stockings, preventing pollution, etc. On the flip side, I am struggling to justify why an angler solely fishing an exclusive syndicate will see first-hand effects of the EA and where their licence fee is being used. That said, putting politics aside, is the fee a fair amount to be able to ‘angle’ for a year? I’d say yes.”
Dave Ellyatt (Head Designer, ESP)
I must admit I am somewhat ignorant on this. Without trawling the EA website to find out how they apportion rod licence proceeds when I’ve got other things to be doing, my immediate reaction is that the only benefit I can think of is where I believe they provide aeration equipment in hot weather to help fisheries with dissolved oxygen problems and also respond to pollution incidents. I think the EA sell something like 1.5 million rod licences per year, but what I’ve never been able to fathom is if that is 1.5m individuals or includes carp anglers who have to buy two licences - I suspect the latter.