Fishing and aquaculture

Fishing and aquaculture in England and Wales.

Fishing

There are a variety of net and trap fisheries around England and Wales. Salmon, sea trout, eel, smelt and lamprey are targeted in estuaries and coastal waters; crayfish are trapped in many rivers and stillwaters; and there is increasing interest in trapping Chinese mitten crab in rivers and estuaries.

Over a thousand people are employed in these local rural industries; many more trap crayfish for personal consumption. The Environment Agency regulates net and trap fishing for migratory and freshwater fish, using a combination of fishing licences, authorisations and byelaws.

How we regulate net and trap fishing

Eel net and trap fishing - Find out how we regulate eel net and trap fishing, and what you need to do if you want to fish with nets or traps for eel or elver.
Salmon and sea trout net fishing - Find out how we regulate salmon and sea trout net fishing.
Lamprey, smelt, crayfish and Chinese mitten crab - Find out how we regulate trapping of lamprey, smelt, crayfish and Chinese mitten crab.

2012 Charges for net and trap fishing

Fishing method or instrument	Number of instruments covered	Charge
Elver fishing - Elver dip net	1 only	£85
Adult Eel using a Fixed trap (eel racks)	1 only	£115
Adult eel, smelt, lamprey or Chinese mitten crab1 fishing using: Wingless or winged traps. These include fyke nets (with or without leaders or wings), putcheons, pipe traps, criggs pots, baskets, hives or like instruments.	Up to 10	Year	Charge
		2012	£40
		2013	£50
		From 2014	£60
	For more than 10 and up to 20	£70
	For more than 20 and up to 50	£80
	For more than 50 and up to 500	£160
	For over 500	£580
Smelt fishing using a seine net	1 only	£85
Crayfish trapping using: Fyke nets (with or without leaders or wings), drop nets, crayfish traps, pots and similar instruments.	1 - 500+	£0
Note 1 - Chinese Mitten Crab fishing Although we have approved charges for different mitten crab fishing methods, we do not expect to authorise any fishing in 2012 other than for monitoring or scientific purposes.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture is a significant industry. There are more than 1,000 fish and shellfish farming businesses in the UK, employing several thousand people.

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science is responsible for regulating fish health at all fish farms and other aquaculture production businesses in England and Wales. It also regulates fish imports and exports. All the necessary forms and guidance are available on the Cefas efishbusiness website:

Cefas efishbusiness website

The Environment Agency regulates water abstraction and discharges at fish farm sites in England and Wales.

We also regulate live fish movements from fish farms and other waters for restocking into rivers, lakes and canals in England and Wales. The relevant guidance is hosted on the Cefas efishbusiness website:

Live fish movement regulation – efishbusiness

Live fish movements regulation is proposed to change in 2011.

Find out about online methods of fish movement consenting

Fish passes