Guidance

Permission to move live fish to or from a fishery

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and Environment Agency
• Part of: Aquatic animal health and movements guides and Fisheries and rod licensing
• Published: 16 May 2014
• Last updated: 3 May 2017, see all updates
• Applies to: England

Get consent to introduce (site permit) or remove fish (excluding fish farms): application forms and rules.

The Environment Agency (EA) regulates the movement of all fish, fry and ova to and from fisheries (rivers, canals, drains and stillwaters).

It’s against the law to do the following without permit or authorisation:

• introduce any fish or fish spawn into a fishery
• remove fish from a fishery (unless using a rod and line, when different rules apply)
• be in possession of any fish or fish spawn intended for introduction to a fishery

You may also have to get a fish health check if you want to stock fish in rivers, canals and lakes connected to open waters.

Different rules apply to fish farms.

If you introduce fish without consent you may be prosecuted and fined up to £50,000

Get a permit to introduce fish to a fishery or keep certain non-native fish

You must get a site permit before you introduce fish into your fishery.

To apply for a permit please contact the EA fish movements team or complete the SP1 Site Permit Application Form (PDF, 135KB, 2 pages) .

You will need:

• your fishery’s registration number
• to be the responsible person for the fishery
• a list of the fish species you are looking to keep or want to introduce
• details about any non-native species that may be present

Permits are free and permanent. You can get advice from EA before you apply.

Get a permit to move or supply fish

If you supply fish or move fish between sites you will need to hold a Supplier Permit.

This does not apply to movements between fish farms or garden ponds.

To apply for a site permit please contact the EA fish movements team.

Get authorisation to use fishing instruments like nets and traps

You must get written consent to use fishing instruments like nets and traps (different rules apply for rod and line).

Application to use fishing instruments (PDF, 137KB, 2 pages)

You can get advice from EA before you apply.

Authorisation is free.

Before getting a site permit

Before getting a site permit you may need to:

• register your fishery
• get a fish health check

Register your fishery

Fisheries must be registered with the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI).

Application to register a fishery or cropping water

Rivers and canals don’t need to be registered.

Get a fish health check

You may also have to get a fish health check if you want to stock fish in rivers, canals and lakes connected to open waters.

How long consent takes

Consent usually takes up to 10 working days, but may take up to 20.

It may take longer if:

• you need a fish health check
• the fishery is in a protected area (like Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI))

Contact

Environment Agency fish movements team

Email: fmapplications@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone: 0208 474 5243

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Document information

Published: 16 May 2014

Updated: 3 May 2017

+ full page history

1. 3 May 2017 Update SR1 and FR2 Forms
2. 13 February 2017 Added SP1 Form for site permits
3. 23 September 2016 Environment Agency fish movements team (authorisations) telephone number changed to 0208 474 5243.
4. 19 September 2016 Renamed the application form and clarified text to better explain that permissions are given for the use of equipment only during removals.
5. 5 January 2016 Update of the ‘Application for authorisation to use fishing instruments other than rod and line in England’ (FR2) form to reflect changes in fish movements legislation and clarification of other permissions required when removing fish.
6. 28 January 2015 Fine limit for introducing fish without consent corrected from £2,500 to £50,000
7. 16 January 2015 Updated due to legislation changes
8. 7 October 2014 Updated implementation date for new fish movement law
9. 16 May 2014 First published.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Environment Agency

Part of: Aquatic animal health and movements guides Fisheries and rod licensing

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