Form

How to complete a several or regulating order application form

Published 1 April 2026

Applies to England

Use this guide when completing the application form for a several or regulating order. It explains what information you need to enter in each field. There are no character limits for writing in each box on this form.

Read the guidance on getting exclusive fishing or management rights for shellfisheries before you fill in this form. This will tell you what: 

• to do before applying 
• supporting documents to include 
• happens after you submit your application

Question 1

‘Application is hereby made by’

If you are applying as an individual, enter your first and last name as they appear on legal documents, such as your passport.

If you are applying for rights on behalf of a company, enter its name as it appears on Companies House.

If you are applying on behalf of an Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA), enter its name.

Applications for regulating orders are typically made by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.

‘Of’

Enter your full address, including the postcode.

‘Under Section 1 of the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967 (as amended by the Sea Fisheries Act 1968 and the Fishery Limits Act 1976, and as extended by the Fisheries Act 1981) (“the Act”) for the making of an order granting to the applicant a several/regulated fishery for (type of shellfish) situated at’

Delete ‘several’ or ‘regulated’, depending on which order you are applying for and replace ‘type of shellfish’ with the species you are targeting.

Enter the location of the fishery. For example, the name of the river, estuary or coastal area.

Question 2

‘The land to which this application relates is known as’

Enter the names of the land covered by the application.

‘Is owned by’

Enter the names of all individuals or organisations that own or have rights over the land where you’re applying for an order.

‘And has an area of [X] hectares’

Enter the area of the site in hectares.

‘Its boundaries are as follows’

Enter the co-ordinates of the boundaries of the site and of any fishing areas, if appropriate.

Question 3

‘The past and present use of the land for shellfish cultivation and the type and extent of infestation by marine pests and diseases are as follows’

Describe any shellfish cultivation that has previously taken place or currently takes place on the site, including who carries it out.

Provide details about any listed shellfish disease designations, such as bonamia or marteilia. Check the control areas for notifiable diseases.

Question 4

‘(a) if a Several Order is made, it is intended to: Stock/cleanse/restock/cultivate’

Delete the options that do not apply to your fishery.  

Do not delete ‘stock’ if you plan to use the order to buy in additional shellfish stock.

Do not delete ‘cleanse’ if you plan to use the order for the purification of shellfish (also known as depuration).

Do not delete ‘restock’ if you plan to move shellfish from an area where you have an existing order to another area outside of the order.

Do not delete ‘cultivate’ if you plan to use the order to farm shellfish.

‘Erect the following structures’

Detail any structures that will be erected for the fishery, including marker buoys.

‘It is proposed to employ the following labour force’

 Provide the number of existing staff and any new staff you plan to hire.

‘And adopt the following methods’

Explain the proposed methods of cultivation, for example, inter tidal, sub-tidal, ground, trestles (trays or bags), floating, long-line or suspended.

‘OR (b) if a Regulating Order is made it is intended:

(i) To make the following regulations, restrictions on fishing, tolls and charges and provisions for improving and cultivating the fishery (indicate general intentions)’

Explain how you intend to manage the fishery, including whether you plan to issue licences to third party operators.

(ii) ‘To exercise, for the purpose of regulating the fishery, authority under (here indicate statutory powers which the applicant is in a position to exercise)’

Detail any other statutory powers under which you are seeking to exercise your authority to regulate the fishery, for example the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Question 5

‘The applicant considers the following additional information to be relevant to this application’

Detail any additional information you consider to be relevant, that is not covered in your application form, management plan or supporting documentation.