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How to assess a planning application when there are freshwater or migratory fish on or near a proposed development site.

• Updated: 7 April 2025

Follow national and local rules (byelaws) when freshwater fishing with a rod and line in England and Wales

• Overview

  You must follow national and local rules (byelaws) when freshwater fishing…

• When and where you can fish

  ‘Close seasons’ are seasons when you cannot fish for some types of fish on…

• Fish size and catch limits

  You’re only allowed to keep a certain amount of the fish you catch. These…

• Tackle you can use

  There are rules on how many rods you can use at a time, and the types of…

How data on landings statistics are collected and processed by fisheries administrations in the UK.

• Updated: 29 January 2021

Summary of the determinations that set out current fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks.

• Updated: 26 January 2026

Apply for a licence to introduce, keep or farm non-native fish, lobsters and crayfish.

• Updated: 17 August 2023

Agreements between the UK, EU, Norway and other coastal states secure access to over 80 stocks for British fishing industry

• Updated: 10 December 2025

How to import or move fish for human consumption to the UK.

• Updated: 15 August 2024

All references to Area VII are to Area VII within British Fishery Limits only. Details of the approach to managing the over 15 metre Area VII crab and scallop fishing sector to keep the fishery within UK effort limits.

• Updated: 3 February 2026

Reduce the risk of disease and find out where listed diseases have been confirmed in England and Wales

• Updated: 6 November 2025

When fishery owners and suppliers of live fish must get a fish health check. How to arrange the check and how to report the results.

• Updated: 12 March 2025