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Statutory guidance

Otters: licence to capture and transport those trapped in fisheries to prevent damage (CL36)

Register for a licence to capture and transport live Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) that are trapped in fisheries to prevent damage and report actions taken under this licence.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England
Published:
26 September 2016
Last updated:
13 October 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added new digital CL36 registration and report of action forms.

  2. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.

  3. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer, including the sections on 'Registering to use this licence' and 'Recording and reporting requirements'. Additional wording added to licence condition 7.

  4. There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.

  5. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.

  6. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2022.

  7. Annual licence update.

  8. Accessible version of licence added - HTML.

  9. Report form replaced with updated version.

  10. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  11. Added that an appropriate live capture trap is a trap which Natural England confirms is acceptable for trapping otter in England

  12. Updated version of licence.

  13. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019. Registration and report forms replaced with updated versions.

  14. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018

  15. Annual licence update 2017.

  16. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Licence to capture and transport otters trapped in fisheries to prevent damage (CL36)

HTML

Details

This licence lets you catch, move and release otters trapped inside fishery fencing as soon as possible to stop them causing serious damage. This licence only applies to fisheries that have appropriate fencing around them designed to keep otters out (see annex B of ‘Licence to capture and transport otters trapped in fisheries to prevent damage CL36’.

You must:

  • get the landowner’s permission before you take action under this licence
  • identify where an otter has got into the fishery such as through broken fencing and fix it before you trap the otter and move it
  • use live capture traps which Natural England confirms as acceptable for trapping otter in England
  • position the trap away from areas that could flood
  • de-activate a trap if heavy rainfall is predicted
  • check any trap set to capture live otters within 3 hours
  • transport and release the trapped otter outside the fishery fence as soon as possible

See ‘Licence to capture and transport otters trapped in fisheries to prevent damage CL36’ for all terms and conditions.

If you need to carry out activities not covered by this licence, you can apply for an individual licence.

On this page you can:

Register with Natural England

You must register with Natural England before you can use this licence.

Natural England will confirm your registration in writing. You must not carry out any licensed activities until you receive written confirmation of your registration.

Complete the registration form

Complete the registration form for a new licence.

Register for a CL36 class licence to capture and transport otters trapped in fisheries to prevent damage

Using your licence for another year

If you plan to use your licence for another year, confirm this on your report of action form, when you report the actions taken under this licence.

You should check for any amendments to the terms and conditions of use on the latest published version of this licence.

Report actions taken under this licence

You must send a report of your action 14 days after each licensed activity.

You must also send an annual report by 31 January each year, even if you’ve taken no action.

Report actions taken under a capture and transport otters trapped in fisheries to prevent damage CL36 class licence

Get help

If you need help with registering for a class licence or completing your licence return form, contact enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk.

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