National Boat Count records slight fall in boat numbers in England and Wales

Canal & River Trust’s annual National Boat Count, carried out during March 2026 across England and Wales, recorded a 2.1 per cent decrease in boat numbers across the charity’s waterways, while licence evasion remained largely unchanged.

The survey also found that the number of boats without home moorings continued a long-term trend, increasing by 3.6 per cent to 8,825 vessels.

Regional figures showed a mixed picture. London and the South East recorded a 9.7 per cent decline in boat numbers, while the North West saw a 2.4 per cent increase. Elsewhere, changes were relatively modest, with all other regions recording movements of less than 2 per cent in either direction.

National licence evasion stood at 11.8 per cent, compared with 11.7 per cent in 2025. While the increase was slight, the figure remains above the level the trust is seeking to achieve. The organisation notes that continuing cost-of-living pressures could still influence future trends.

To address the issue, the trust is reviewing its enforcement processes while increasing its focus on early intervention and support for boaters experiencing financial difficulties. Measures include strengthening links with organisations that can provide financial assistance and improving communication with boaters considered at risk of becoming unlicensed.

Between April 2025 and May 2026, the trust’s welfare team assisted with 1,676 cases.

Matthew Aymes, national licensing manager at Canal & River Trust, says: “Given the direction we’ve seen over recent years, we hope this represents the first step towards stabilising evasion rates. However, the number of unlicensed boats remains far higher than we want it to be.

“We’re very conscious that the cost of living remains high and we’re continuing to support those who are struggling. The best thing boaters can do is get in touch if they’re facing difficulties, and we’ll do everything we can to get them the support they need. We want to resolve issues early before people slip into evasion.

“As a charity, the income from boat licences is important to help fund essential work such as maintaining locks, safeguarding the reservoirs that feed the canals, fixing leaks and carrying out the everyday tasks that make navigation possible. Thank you to everyone who plays their part in helping us care for this incredible canal network.”

During the last financial year, 98 abandoned and/or unlicensed boats were removed from the network.

The trust has also committed to identifying all known sunken boats on its waterways and producing a prioritised removal plan. Work will begin with higher-risk vessels and those that can be removed more quickly.

The National Boat Count is based on physical sightings carried out by the trust’s towpath teams.

Data released alongside the survey highlights notable regional differences. The East Midlands recorded a 0.9 per cent increase in boat numbers requiring Canal & River Trust licences, while the North West rose by 2.4 per cent. London and the South East saw the largest decline at 9.7 per cent. Wales and the South West fell by 1.6 per cent, the West Midlands by 1.7 per cent and Yorkshire and the North East by 0.7 per cent.

The trust also reported that a follow-up count undertaken in September 2025 identified an error in the worksheet used to compile the March figures, resulting in some numbers being excluded. The corrected licence evasion rate for March 2025 was 11.7 per cent, while the September count recorded a rise to 14.1 per cent.