A STRETCH of the River Severn popular with anglers has been enhanced as part of £1million investment of rod licence income.
At the Upton and Ripple stretch, existing steps and handrails were replaced to allow a safer venue for all anglers.
This project was one of 220 delivered by the Environment Agency which is striving to improve fishing and support sustainable fish stocks.
Schemes supported with £925,000 through the Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP) include creating habitat for coarse fish and trout, and improving angling access facilities so that more people are able to enjoy the sport.
Since FIP was established in 2015, over 1,000 projects have been successfully completed, with a total of nearly £7million reinvested from fishing licence sales alone.
Heidi Stone, Environment Agency Fisheries Manager said: “The Fisheries Improvement Programme is a great example of how rod licence income is being reinvested, resulting in sustainable fish stocks and directly benefiting angling and local communities.
“The programme recognises and invests in a wide programme of work to help maintain, improve and develop fisheries.
“Looking to the future, we will continue to work with our partners, angling clubs and fisheries to identify and deliver high quality projects, the more people who buy a licence and go fishing, the more we can invest in this way.”
Every penny the Environment Agency receives in fishing licence income is reinvested to protect both the sport of angling and England’s waterways.
The FIP funding is also matched by local partners including angling clubs and fisheries and local trusts.
Over the last year the total match funding, made up of additional cash and in-kind contributions, is estimated to be early £6.3million.
The Environment Agency works with organisations such as the Angling Trust and Wild Trout Trust to make sure projects are carried out to their full potential and have the support they need.
Shaun Leonard, Director at the Wild Trout Trust said: “Money from the Fisheries Improvement Programme has allowed us to do some really good work with angling club members to improve habitats for the wildlife of England’s rivers.”
Upton and Ripple is a stillwater fishery most noted for coarse fishing, Pike, Eel and Mirror Carp are amongst the key species on offer at the venue.
