Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether anglers could be entitled to compensation from water companies as a result of pollution into fishing waters from sewerage outflows.

There is no specific compensation scheme for anglers. Enforcement action by Ofwat can lead to settlements where water companies agree to return money to customers as bill rebates. As a result of Ofwat’s action against Southern Water in 2019 and Thames Water in 2018, the companies are returning £123 million and £120 million respectively to customers over the next five years.

The use of storm overflows is strictly set out in Environment Agency permits who will not hesitate to use all options for robust enforcement action against illegal breaches of these permits. This can include unlimited fines via criminal prosecution by the Environment Agency for the most serious offences. Since 2015, the EA has brought 54 prosecutions against water companies, securing fines of almost £140 million.

Victims of environmental offending can apply to the court for compensation as part of proceedings brought by the Environment Agency and this is generally the first matter the court will address upon sentencing. Impacted parties can approach the Environment Agency and ask for their compensation claim to be included in the proceedings. Compensation may then be awarded by the Court on successful conviction.