UK anglers now less than 1 million

The number of anglers on Britain's lake and river banks has fallen well below the one million mark for the second time in two years, according to the benchmark figure of how many Rod Licences have been sold.

More than four million of us were fishing just 25 years ago, according to returns from the old water authority licences.

Now figures released by the Environment Agency show that just under 950,000 anglers have bought the ?9 Rod Licence this season - a drop of three per cent on last term.

While some fish on without the statutory licence, the EA's sales figures have always been taken as a guide to the number of people going fishing.

Figures do not take into account carp and predator anglers, who buy two licences to cover them to fish with four rods.

Officials reckon the Euro 2000 soccer tournament and poor summer weather helped keep casual anglers off the banks this year.

Price increases are already being mooted. The EA says it will have to increase the price of the two-rod adult licence from ?9 to ?0.

More than 80 per cent of anglers already think the licence fee is too high, according to a survey out this week.

www.fishing.co.uk