LONDON, April 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
The Environment Agency iscelebratinga£10 million milestone for its Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP),markinga decade ofcommunity-led conservation that hasimproved fisheries and supported outdoor recreation across England.
Since 2015, the programme has delivered 1,585 projects,with£10millionoffishinglicence income matched by £15 million from partner organisations, creating £25millionof combined investment in local fisheries.In 2024/25 alone, FIP improved or protected 61 kilometres of rivers, enhanced 204 hectares ofstillwaterfisheries, and directlybenefited180,000 anglers.
The programme supports projects developed by angling clubs, volunteer groups, schools,charitiesandlocalorganisations. From stabilising eroding riverbanks and restoring overgrown ponds to installing accessible fishing platforms and planting thousands of trees, the work spans nature recovery, socialinclusionand community wellbeing.
In Cumbria, more than 5,300 trees were planted along the River Derwent in 2025, with thousands of volunteer hours invested in restoring spawning habitats and improving access for families and anglers.
In Shrewsbury, FIP has helped make 2.5 kilometres of riverbank safer and more accessible by replacing hazardous, flooddamaged platforms with new fishing pegs. The improvements mean local anglers, including junior anglers, older visitors and people with disabilities, can return to stretches of the River Severn that had become difficult and unsafe to reach.
And at the Wish Stream in Sandhurst, FIP funding supported habitat improvements to 600 metres of river running through the Royal Military Academy. Working with the Wild Trout Trust and military volunteers, the project removed obstructions, tackled invasiveplantsand restored natural flow. These changes havehelpedsupport the stream's wild trout population and the estate's wider wildlife.
Heidi Stone, Fisheries Partnerships Manager at the Environment Agency, said:
For ten years,fishinglicence income has helped deliver thousands of improvements that make a real difference to anglers and the communities around them.
This milestone is a testament to the volunteers, clubs and partners who have matched our commitment with their own time,expertiseand energy.
Everyfishinglicence sold helps create lasting value for local fisherieswherethemoneyavailable allowslocalinnovation andimprovements,increasingthefairnessof opportunityforeveryone.We look forward to continuing that work with the angling community for years to come.
As families begin planning their spring and summer outdoor activities, the Fisheries Improvement Programme continues to support safer access, improvedhabitatsand inclusive opportunities for people to enjoy spending time by the water.
Andy Petch, Fisheries Funding Manager at the Angling Trust, said:
The Fisheries Improvement Programme is a fantastic opportunity for clubs and organisations to gain grant funding to improve their fisheries for the benefit of anglers, and a great way for people to see how their rod licence money is reinvested into the sport.
Over the past ten years more than£10millionhas been awarded to clubs and fisheries across the country, fromAlnwick in theNorth Eastto the tip of Cornwall.
It'snot all about licence checks on the bank - improving accessibility and safety through reinvested funds will help shape the future of our sport for years to come.
Full details of how rod licence income is reinvested to protect and improve England's fisheries can be found in theEnvironment Agency's annual fisheries report.
Information about future rounds of the Fisheries Improvement Programme will be available later this yearon theAngling Trust's website.
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