Two brothers from Worcestershire have been prosecuted for three counts of illegal fishing. 

Liam Astley Morris, aged 19, and Joseph Astley Morris, aged 21, of Kingsley Avenue in Redditch, pleaded guilty to fishing in the close season, fishing without a licence and using an illegal bait. 

The illegal fishing happened at Cleeve Prior on the River Avon, Evesham, on April 21. 

Joseph Astley Morris received a fine of £87 as well as costs of £65 and a victim surcharge of £34. 

His brother Liam received a fine of £40, costs of £65 and a victim surcharge of £16. 

The annual close season, which runs from March 15 to June 15, prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England. 

This helps to protect fish when they are spawning and to support vulnerable stocks. 

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "These two brothers were not only fishing in the close season, but they were also fishing without a licence and using an illegal bait. 

"We hope their prosecutions will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws we have in place across England. 

"We urge anglers to respect the close season to help reduce pressures on our fisheries benefitting fish and the wider environment. 

"Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency's efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable. Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers. 

"We inspect rod licences 24/7 to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute." 

Any angler aged 13 or over and fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish. 

A one day licence costs from just £7.10 and an annual licence costs from £35.80 with concessions available. 

Junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds. 

Licences are available at www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. 

The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported. 

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807 060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.