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Statutory guidance

White-clawed crayfish: licence to catch them to carry out maintenance (CL23)

Register to use a licence to catch and relocate white-clawed crayfish for maintenance work on water bodies – and report actions taken under this licence.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England
Published:
1 January 2016
Last updated:
18 August 2026
Show all updates

  1. The registration form to catch and relocate white-clawed crayfish to maintain water bodies has been replaced with a new online form. The Report your actions (LR23) form has also been replaced with a new online form, alongside details of the information needed to complete it. The date to report any actions taken under this licence has also changed. You must now report your action between 1 and 31 October each year, even if you’ve taken no action or did not find the target species.

  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'.

  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. Accessible version of the licence added - HTML.

  10. Replaced licence registration form CL23a with updated version.

  11. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  12. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019. Replaced registration form with updated version.

  13. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018

  14. Annual licence update 2017.

  15. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Licence to catch and relocate white-clawed crayfish to maintain water bodies (CL23)

HTML

Details

This licence allows you to catch and relocate white-clawed crayfish (also called Atlantic stream crayfish) between 1 July and 30 September to maintain water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, ponds and canals.

You can catch white-clawed crayfish by:

You need a separate licence for any other activities.

On this page you can:

Register with Natural England

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

Complete the registration form

Complete the form to register for a new licence.

Register for a CL23 class licence to catch white-clawed crayfish

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

You do not need to register if you have a personal survey licence.

Using your licence for another year

If you plan to use your licence for another year, confirm this on your submit a white-clawed crayfish CL23 class licence 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 use the submit a white-clawed crayfish CL23 class licence report of action form, to report any actions taken under this licence. Report your action between 1 and 31 October each year, even if you’ve taken no action or did not find the target species.

You will be asked:

  • for your licence details
  • for details of any maintenance works carried out
  • for the number of white-clawed crayfish caught
  • for details of any white-clawed crayfish caught, including the species, the ratio of male to female crayfish, and the percentage of immature crayfish
  • for details of any habitat enhancements provided
  • if you want to continue using your licence for another year

You must also send your results to the Local Record Centre. You can do this by recording your results on the iRecord website or contacting your Local Record Centre.

You must send your results to the Local Record Centre before you submit your licence return.

Submit a white-clawed crayfish CL23 class licence report of action

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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