From January 16th, 2023, rod fishing licences will no longer be available to purchase from the Post Office, the Environment Agency has confirmed.
However, discussions are still ongoing with the Angling Trades Association to see if tackle shops would be able to offer an online service to anglers. The EA cannot engage with individual tackle shops as agents to sell rod licences on its behalf.
The Environment Agency contract with the Post Office to sell fishing licences will come to an end next year, ending a long association where fishing licences could be bought over the counter.
Over the last decade it has slowly brought the services provided by the Post Office contract in house, resulting in more flexibility in what we the E says it can to deliver for customers. Currently 90 per cent of anglers buy online quickly and easily as a result of these improvements.
The move away from the Post Office and to digital sales will provide cost savings to the Environment Agency which can be invested directly back into the fisheries service.
A campaign is now starting to alert anglers to the end of the contract and the importance – and ease – of buying a ‘digital’ licence online.