Live fish introductions into Inland Waters (other than introductions onto authorised APBs)

When you stock any fish, fry or ova into any river or stillwater fishery in England and Wales, you must get written consent from the Environment Agency. This is a legal requirement.

It is called a "Section 30 Consent". The consent is issued for a specific date, or dates, fishery and consignment of fish.

Fish stocking is an important tool in managing a fishery, but there are risks. It is essential to know the long term aim of your fishery and what can be realistically achieved. This allows you to get the best results from a fish introduction. A simple guide is available to aid your understanding of the benefits and risks (refer to the fact sheet ’Stocking your fishery’).

What is Fishery Registration and do I need it?

Since August 2009 fishery owners must register their fisheries with Cefas under the Aquatic Animal Health Regulations, to obtain Section 30 consents. The regulations were introduced to maintain the high fish health status within the UK. Registration is a one-off procedure.

Further information and application forms (RW1) can be found in the Fishery Registration section.

How to apply for Section 30 consent?

It’s easy to apply - simply complete the 1-page application form (FR1). You can print off a FR1 form or you can apply online using ’E-consenting. You can also contact the Fisheries Permitting Team on 01480 483968.

On the FR1 form you are asked to provide information on where the fish are coming from and the species to be moved. This allows the Environment Agency to assess the movement and establish if there are any risks to the fishery or wider environment.

Completed applications should be sent to the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Permitting Team - the address is on the application form. Please allow at least 10 working days for the application to be processed. However, more than 10 working days may be needed if:

A fish health check is required
The conservation status of the receiving water (such as a SSSI) means the Environment Agency has to consult with an external organisation such as Natural England or the Countryside Council for Wales

Do I need a health check?

All introductions of fish to open waters (where water can flow from one body of water to another, or is in the floodplain) must be supported by a valid health check. These are known as ‘Mandatory waters’. Health checks ensure parasites and disease are not spread into the wild.

Health checks are not normally required for fully enclosed waters, known as ‘Non-Mandatory Waters’, where the risk of fish escape is minimal. But the Environment Agency always advises that a health check should be carried out on the fish before they are introduced.

More details about fish health checks can be found in the Fish Health Checks section.

What if I want to introduce a non-native species?

You will also require an ILFA licence from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), which can take 2 months to process. This needs to be obtained before submitting your Section 30 application. More information can be found in the Non-native section or from Cefas on 01305 206700. The ILFA licence will also include Wildlife and Countryside Act consent.

Who to contact to discuss Section 30 issues?

If you have any questions please contact the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Permitting (FP) Team on 01480 483968. The FP Team will be happy to advise you on how to go about stocking your fishery and applying for consent.

If you have any specific issues with the fish movement or other fisheries management queries, please contact your local Fisheries Consenting Officer by calling the Environment Agency Customer Contact Centre on 08708 506 506.

Offences and Penalties

Under Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, unless you first obtain written consent from the Environment Agency, it is an offence to:

introduce any fish or spawn of fish into an inland water
be in possession of any fish or spawn of fish intended to be introduced into an inland water

If consent is not obtained in advance this could lead to prosecution and a criminal record, with a fine of up to Ј2,500.