“Anglers are better known for catching fish, but rod licences put fish back where they’re needed,” said Jim Flory of the Environment Agency as winter restocking across the West Country nears completion. Almost 6,750 coarse fish reared at the Agency’s Calverton Fish Farm near Nottingham have been released this season.

Barbel, dace, rudd, roach, bream, tench and crucians have been shared among rivers, lakes and ponds in Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. The focus is on waters that need a timely lift after a challenging year.

A photo supplied by the Environment Agency shows a member of Wimborne and District Angling Club releasing fish into a local lake - a small snapshot of the club-and-agency teamwork that underpins the programme on the ground.

The reasons for topping up stocks vary. Some fisheries have suffered disease or pollution incidents; others have struggled with high temperatures and low flows through the summer, particularly across parts of the South West.

December and January are chosen for their cooler water, reducing stress during transport and acclimatisation. The timing also sets stocks up ahead of spring, when many species spawn and juvenile fish have a better start.

Crucially, the restocking is paid for by anglers through rod licence income. That ring-fenced funding turns everyday fees into healthier, more resilient fisheries - good for nature, local club activity and the rural economy.

For Northern readers, there’s a clear takeaway: practical, ring-fenced public funding and local delivery can produce visible results. Calverton Fish Farm near Nottingham produced the fish for this West Country round - a straightforward example of policy translating into action.

The Agency says the seasonal programme is nearly complete for this winter. Anglers planning their year can buy or renew rod licences online via GOV.UK, keeping the cycle of investment in local waters going.