Decade of transformation: Environment Agency marks 拢10 million milestone in fisheries restoration
Fishing licence income delivers 拢10 million of investment in fisheries since 2015
The Environment Agency is听celebrating听a听拢10 million milestone for its Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP),听marking听a decade of听community-led conservation that has听improved fisheries and supported outdoor recreation across England.听
Since 2015, the programme has delivered 1,585 projects,听with听拢10听million听of听fishing听licence income matched by 拢15 million from partner organisations, creating 拢25听million听of combined investment in local fisheries.听In 2024/25 alone, FIP improved or protected 61 kilometres of rivers, enhanced 204 hectares of听stillwater听fisheries, and directly听benefited听180,000 anglers.听
The programme supports projects developed by angling clubs, volunteer groups, schools,听charities听and听local听organisations. From stabilising eroding riverbanks and restoring overgrown ponds to installing accessible fishing platforms and planting thousands of trees, the work spans nature recovery, social听inclusion听and community wellbeing.听
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.听
In Shrewsbury, FIP has helped make 2.5 kilometres of riverbank safer and more accessible by replacing hazardous, flood听damaged 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.听
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 invasive听plants听and restored natural flow. These changes have听helped听support the stream鈥檚 wild trout population and the estate鈥檚 wider wildlife.听
Heidi Stone, Fisheries Partnerships Manager at the Environment Agency, said:听
For ten years,听fishing听licence 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,听expertise听and energy.
Every听fishing听licence sold helps create lasting value for local fisheries听where听the听money听available allows听local听innovation and听improvements,听increasing听the听fairness听of opportunity听for听everyone.听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, improved听habitats听and inclusive opportunities for people to enjoy spending time by the water.听
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听拢10听million听has been awarded to clubs and fisheries across the country, from听Alnwick in the听North East听to the tip of Cornwall.听
It鈥檚听not all about licence checks on the bank 鈥� 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鈥檚 fisheries can be found in the听Environment Agency鈥檚 annual fisheries report.听
Information about future rounds of the Fisheries Improvement Programme will be available later this year听on the听.