Environment Agency - Kent & South London Fisheries Team

Environment Agency - Kent & South London Fisheries Team The Environment Agency fisheries team responsible for enforcement, regulation, fish welfare & management as well a promotion of angling.

Covering the area of Kent, South London and East Sussex.

🐟Delayed post alert🐟Febuary saw another great collaboration event between our fisheries team and the Institute of Fisher...
25/03/2026

🐟Delayed post alert🐟

Febuary saw another great collaboration event between our fisheries team and the Institute of Fisheries Management guys, this time in Canterbury. Our very own Jordan showcased some of the great work we do as the KSL fisheries team and he was joined by the very knowledgeable Ian and Paul from the IFM. With over 20 angling clubs in attendance it was as always a fully booked event.

We try to run these events once or twice annually, they are open to all fisheries organisation's as well as interested individuals and are always booked up. We describe them as a fisheries management course condensed into one weekend! With so much knowledge and experience from both us and the IFM guys all individuals go away with a head full new or expanded fisheries management knowledge to put into practice.

If you run or are involved with running a fishery in Kent & South London and are interested in the next event (Date & location to be confirmed) then let your local fisheries officer know.

🚨 RIVER CLOSE SEASON NOW IN FORCEThe coarse fish close season on rivers, streams and drains begins 15 March and runs unt...
15/03/2026

🚨 RIVER CLOSE SEASON NOW IN FORCE

The coarse fish close season on rivers, streams and drains begins 15 March and runs until 15 June.

During this time it is illegal to fish for coarse fish in these waters. The close season protects fish while they spawn and helps ensure healthy fish populations for the future.

Our Fisheries Enforcement Officers will be actively patrolling rivers throughout the close season, and anyone found fishing illegally should expect enforcement action.

If you see suspected illegal fishing activity, please report it to our 24-hour incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60.

🐟WINDY!!!!!Another new fishery helped out this morning, with concerns over the health of some of their fish stock.Along ...
12/03/2026

🐟WINDY!!!!!
Another new fishery helped out this morning, with concerns over the health of some of their fish stock.

Along with loads of fishery management advice, we were able to quickly capture some fish which are currently on route to our national fisheries laboratory for diagnostics and full MOT.

Always nice meeting new passionate fishery mangers and anglers even in 60mph winds! 😅

It’s been a busy week for the Fisheries Enforcement Team with patrols across our waters, putting out closed season signs...
08/03/2026

It’s been a busy week for the Fisheries Enforcement Team with patrols across our waters, putting out closed season signs, and getting our equipment ready for the spring ahead. 🎣

We also seized some non native / invasive species and attended several reports of illegal / suspicious activity - More on this when we can .

A reminder to anglers: if you witness suspected illegal fishing activity or set lines, nets or traps, please report it. The information you provide helps us protect fish stocks and ensure everyone can enjoy fishing fairly.

If you see something suspicious:
• Take note of the location and time
• Record descriptions of people, vehicles, or equipment if it’s safe to do so
• Contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (24 hours)

Reports can be made anonymously, but it’s really helpful if you leave a contact number so one of our officers can call you back to gather more details and, where possible, provide feedback.

Please do not approach anyone involved or attempt to remove nets, traps, or lines yourself. Your safety is the priority.

Where reports are received, officers may carry out further patrols or surveillance to help identify potential offenders.

Your reports make a real difference and help us target our patrols where they’re needed most.

Thank you for helping us look after our fisheries. 👍

Enjoy the last few days of the course season and tight lines !

🐟Another local club helped this week and given some valuable data on fish populations present in one of their waters. Wi...
06/03/2026

🐟Another local club helped this week and given some valuable data on fish populations present in one of their waters. With this lake being very snaggy we were unable to seine net but still spent the day electro fishing to obtain as much data as we could for them.

With only one or two fishery management jobs left for us this year and most of this coming winter booked up with jobs, if your fishery could benefit with some extra help get in touch with your local fisheries officer.🐟

🎣 Think Fisheries Officers just check rod licences? Think again.When people see a Fisheries Officer, they often assume w...
13/02/2026

🎣 Think Fisheries Officers just check rod licences? Think again.

When people see a Fisheries Officer, they often assume we’re just out checking rod licences.

Yes — that’s part of the job.

But the real work goes much deeper.

Behind the scenes, Fisheries Officers are protecting entire Stillwater and river systems and the species that depend on them.

🔎 We investigate illegal netting targeting migratory fish like sea trout and salmon.

🌊 We protect endangered eels during their migration runs.

🐟 We monitor smelt spawning grounds in tidal estuaries.

🚫 We deal with illegal fish movements and unregistered stocking (KiF compliance).
⚖️ We prepare case files for prosecution under fisheries legislation.

🤝 We work alongside police, IFCA, harbour authorities and other partners on joint operations.

🌙 We patrol at night to disrupt poaching activity.

It’s intelligence-led.
It’s environmental protection.
It’s safeguarding biodiversity.
And yes — sometimes it’s standing waist-deep in a river in the rain at 2am.

Rod licence compliance matters because it funds fisheries protection.

But the job is about protecting ecosystems, migratory routes, and future generations of anglers.

Fisheries Officers aren’t just checking paperwork.

We’re protecting rivers that can’t protect themselves.

🐟Another successfully completed stock assessment last week for a local angling club, we used a combination of seine nett...
03/02/2026

🐟Another successfully completed stock assessment last week for a local angling club, we used a combination of seine netting with large 150m nets and electro fishing from the boat to cover all basis.

With this valuable data gained we are now able to answer and advise on particular concerns held by the club and work with them to create a new management plan working in partnership.

It was certainly cold, wet and muddy but we love days like this, being able to really help and make a difference for local fisheries is our goal.

We are always very booked up with these management jobs year on year but if your fishery could benefit from some assistance get in touch. 🐟

Only two weeks to go until the Fishery Improvement Programme submissions deadline is up! Could your fishery aid with som...
23/01/2026

Only two weeks to go until the Fishery Improvement Programme submissions deadline is up!

Could your fishery aid with some funding to carry out vital angling/habitat improvements? Perhaps some better access, repair some old swims or create new ones to allow for greater access to disabled or junior anglers? Maybe some water quality help with an oxygen meter and aeration should those parameters fall?

Do you look after a section of river and want to make some habitat improvements to aid natural recruitment or allow for easier/safer access to more of your members?

If your fishery is based in Kent, South London or parts of Sussex and Surrey then consider getting an application in.

More details and how to apply can be found in the link in the comments.

16/01/2026

Our support goes out to our colleagues in the Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire Team. Our officers should never have to put up with threatening or abusive behaviour wherever we are in the country - it will not be tolerated!!

Thomas Hodkinson, 24, from Heywood, appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court last week where he pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and fishing without a fishing licence.
Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officers are deemed to be constables for the purposes of enforcing fisheries legislation and are protected under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.

The court heard that the officer was struck across the face with a broken rod during fisheries patrols at Pilsworth Fishery, near Bury in Greater Manchester, on 28 August 2024 whilst carrying out routine enforcement work.

He was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the community, to pay compensation of £100 and costs of £300.
Our officers are doing an important job ensuring people are fishing legally and taking action against those that aren’t. This serves as a warning that anyone being abusive or threatening towards them can expect to be put before the courts.

More details of the offence can be read by following the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/manchester-man-sentenced-for-assaulting-fisheries-officer

A big thank you to everyone who follows and supports our page 🙏Your likes, comments, shares and messages really mean a l...
24/12/2025

A big thank you to everyone who follows and supports our page 🙏
Your likes, comments, shares and messages really mean a lot and help us keep doing what we do.
And remember… don’t let the Grinch steal your rod licence! 🎄🎣😄

21/12/2025

The EA run a coarse fish hatchery at Calverton near Nottingham. This is funded by fishing licence income. This rears fish to help:

replenish stocks after an environmental incident
kick-start the recovery of fisheries after they have recovered from long term issues, for example pollution
In 2024 to 2025 the National Coarse Fish Rearing Unit at Calverton stocked 478,937 fish into rivers and stillwaters around the country. This was made up of the following species:

Barbel – 136,150
Bream – 48,274
Chub – 54,830
Crucians – 25,915
Dace – 47,420
Grayling – 48,359
Roach – 86,190
Rudd – 23,300
Tench – 40,050
The area breakdown for fish received was:

Anglian – 144,750
Midlands – 75,990
North East – 141,820
North West – 25,900
South East – 83,569
South West – 38,459
There were 357,149 fish introduced into rivers and 153,339 introduced into stillwaters.

In addition to the 510,488 one- and two-year-old fish, just under 2 million advanced reared larvae were also stocked out into the wild.

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West Malling
ME195SH

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+44800807060

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