Anglers must have a licence to fish the Island’s rivers and reservoirs.

The reminder from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) follows the prosecution of three individuals for fishing without a licence or landing net and using illegal bait.

Stuart Pacey, of Tromode Park, Douglas, Chris Lacey, of Loch Promenade, Douglas, and Chris Murray, of Governor’s Hill, Douglas, admitted the three charges when they appeared before magistrates on Thursday. They were each fined ?80 and ordered to pay ?50 costs.

The defendants were apprehended at the Clypse reservoir, Onchan, in July by a volunteer fisheries watcher, who had a warrant from DEFA, the court heard.

The men were not regular anglers and were enjoying an impromptu day out, but had failed to buy a licence or check regulations.

Magistrates said they didn’t want to discourage the men from fishing, ordered the return of a fishing rod that was confiscated and didn’t impose a ban on fishing.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘Regulations protect fish from unnecessary damage and over-exploitation, while revenue from licence sales supports conservation of freshwater fisheries and angling facilities at reservoirs.

‘Checks of inland waters are carried out by DEFA fisheries officers and volunteer fishery watchers.

‘This prosecution is a reminder that licences are needed to fish rivers and reservoirs and these can be purchased via www.gov.im, the Isle of Man Government Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal and from DEFA in St John’s.’

An anglers’ code of conduct, summarising regulations, is available at reservoirs and on the website.’