As public respect for the ecological and historical value of Britain’s inland waterways continues to grow, five boaters have been caught using their vessels on the River Thames without valid registrations.

Thames protection

All the registration offences were contrary to non-registration charges under Articles 4 and 18 of The Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010, and Mick Dutson, an Environment Agency Waterways Enforcement Officer, has no sympathy for the fines imposed on the illegal river users: “Boaters have a responsibility to ensure their vessels are registered and we regularly challenge people using boats on the river without licences. In response to customer feedback, we continue to do routine patrols and lockside checks. The income we raise from boat registration is very important for the community and the environment. It contributes directly to improving and maintaining waterway structures such as locks and lay-bys, as well as providing facilities like visitor moorings, water points, rubbish disposal and electric boat charging hook-ups."

It is illegal to use a boat on the non-tidal River Thames without it first being registered with the Environment Agency. This applies to all types of pleasure craft, including motor cruisers, sailing boats, narrowboats and unpowered vessels, such as canoes or rowing boats. An annual fee is payable upon registration and anyone taking up boating is responsible for making themselves aware of the rules and regulations. This information can be found in the publication ‘A user’s guide to the River Thames’ which can be picked up at locks or downloaded from Visit Thames.