Can I go fishing in tier 3?
FISHING has been continuing throughout lockdown, with anglers delighted to visit their local lakes for their recreational activity. But after the UK Government announced the new tier system in England, can you still go fishing in tier 3? Latest rules explained after Matt Hancock's tier announcement.
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Fishing hasn't stopped throughout the lockdown, although there were some restrictions in place - largely surrounding tackle shops and clubhouses. These are the latest rules around fishing in tier 3 areas.
Unlike other outdoor recreational activities, including golf and tennis, the Government never asked fisheries to close for the winter lockdown.
The Government made it clear that visiting parks and gardens for outdoor recreation was a legitimate reason for being outside.
But the Rule of Six quickly became the Rule of Two for anglers.
Fishing was banned with anybody outside of your own household or support bubble, except for one other individual.
READ MORE: Fishing and lockdown: Is fishing exercise?
Can you go fishing in tier 3?
Everyone is allowed to go finishing, regardless of what tier they've been placed in.
There are, however, some rules and regulations that you have to follow.
You must stick to the Rule of Six, and that should only be in "outdoor public spaces".
If you live in a tier 3 area, you should avoid heading out of a tier 3 district to go fishing.
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If your fishery is in a tier 3 setting, the clubhouse or tackle shop will remain closed.
Some shops have set up a click/call and collect scheme to keep anglers topped up with equipment.
Night fishing hasn't got any individual limits, so it will be re-introduced with the same rules as day fishing.
Of course, all anglers have been urged to use common sense and stick to social distancing guidelines.
Angling Trust & Fish Legal CEO, Jamie Cook, urged anglers to continue acting responsibly throughout the pandemic.
"Angling has conducted itself safely throughout this pandemic and must continue to do so," he said.
"These new restrictions are good news for angling as a whole and we urge all anglers to continue to fish responsibly and not to put themselves or our sport at risk.
"The Angling Trust will continue to monitor guidelines published by the government and keep members and informed as to what they will mean for angling."
On Thursday November 26, Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed which areas of England would be emerging into tier 3 after lockdown.
These areas include:
North East
Tees Valley Combined Authority:
Hartlepool
Middlesbrough
Stockton-on-Tees
Redcar and Cleveland
Darlington
North East Combined Authority:
Sunderland
South Tyneside
Gateshead
Newcastle upon Tyne
North Tyneside
County Durham
Northumberland
North West
Greater Manchester
Lancashire
Blackpool
Blackburn with Darwen
Yorkshire and The Humber
The Humber
West Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
West Midlands
Birmingham and Black Country
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull
East Midlands
Derby and Derbyshire
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Leicester and Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
South East
Slough (remainder of Berkshire is tier 2: High alert)
Kent and Medway
South West
Bristol
South Gloucestershire
North Somerset