UK Act of Parliament
1975
United Kingdom
Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
4 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
Penalty landscape
2 of 4 obligations carry a criminal penalty. 2 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 2
- Licence Holder 1
Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Licence Holders also bound by 221 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999 1999 317 duties
- The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004 2004 123 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 76 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 68 duties
- The Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991 1991 65 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — Prohibition of Certain Modes of Taking or Destroying Fish,
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part II — Obstructions to Passage of Fish
Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Fixed engines.
Fishing weirs.
Fishing mill dams.
Duty to make and maintain fish passes.
Power of appropriate agency to construct and alter fish passes.
Minister’s consents and approvals for fish passes.
Penalty for injuring or obstructing fish pass or free gap.
Sluices.
Screens.
Power of appropriate agency to use screens etc. to limit movements of salmon and trout.
Boxes and cribs in weirs and dams.
Restrictions on taking salmon or trout above or below an obstruction or in mill races.
Provisons supplementary to Part II.
Part III — Times of Fishing and Selling and Exporting Fish
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part IV — Fishing Licences and authorisations
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Licences to fish.
Limitation of fishing licences.
Unlicensed fishing.
Authorisation of fishing otherwise than by licensable means
Unauthorised fishing
Part V — Administration and Enforcement
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
General powers and duties of water authorities and Minister.
Fish rearing licences.
Introduction of fish into inland waters.
Powers of search etc.
Power to enter lands.
Orders and warrants to enter suspected premises.
Power to apprehend persons fishing illegally ....
Power to require production of fishing licences.
Provisions supplementary to sections 31 to 35.
Prosecution etc. of offences.
Fixed penalty notices for certain offences.
Part VI — Miscellaneous and Supplementary
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Works below high water mark.
Border rivers and Solway Firth.
River Severn.
Power to specify fish
Orders: supplementary
Interpretation.
Repeals etc.
Citation etc.
Schedules
The date of entry in the licence shall be stated...
- Record date of entry in licence and send copy to agency within 24 hours Licence Holder
Any person who, with intent to deceive, enters on a...
- Misuse of fishing licence by entering extra names or false dates Any Person
A person who is prosecuted for an offence against this...
- Fail to surrender fishing licence after court order Any Person
Where any fish or any other thing of a perishable...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must pay net proceeds of perishable seized goods to owner on demand Statutory regulator
Browse 71 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Close Seasons and Close Times
Close Seasons and Close Times
Close Seasons and Close Times
Close Seasons and Close Times
Close Seasons and Close Times
Close Seasons and Close Times
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, there shall be payable...
The name and address of a servant or agent may...
Licences
The number of servants or agents whose names may at...
(1) Where a fishing licence is granted in respect of...
Subject to section 26 above, a fishing licence shall be...
A fishing licence shall not confer any right to fish...
A fishing licence shall not authorise the erection of any...
The production of a printed copy of a statement purporting...
Different duties may be fixed under paragraph 1 above for...
The appropriate agency shall at least one month before fixing...
If during the month immediately following the publication of a...
The appropriate national authority , with or without a local...
The appropriate agency may grant a temporary licence, that is...
There shall be payable in respect of a general licence...
An order may provide— (a) for the imposition, collection and...
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An order shall not authorise a fixed engine to be...
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The Minister shall not grant a licence until he has...
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(1) Without prejudice to section 4 of the Water Resources...
An order may contain any incidental, consequential or supplemental provisions,...
An application for an order may be made by any...
The applicant for an order shall give such security for...
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(1) Column 2 of the Table below gives a description...
Where a court orders a fishing or general licence or...
Where any person is convicted of an offence against this...
A certificate under paragraph 12 above shall be receivable in...
In paragraphs 10 and 12 above “ proper officer ”...
Any offence against this Act committed on the sea-coast or...
Offences against this Act committed in Scotland shall be proceeded...
A justice of the peace shall not be disqualified from...
The court by which a person is convicted of an...
Schedule 3 to the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979...
An authorised officer may seize any fish bought, sold or...
If a person is convicted of an offence against this...
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
Browse 3 other sections
sch. 2 para. 6n1
sch. 2 para. 6n2
sch. 2 para. 9n2
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- GOV.UK: freshwater rod and net fishing (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- FSA: shellfish classification (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- GOV.UK: marine licensing (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Environment Agency
PrimaryEnvironmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …
Marine Management Organisation
Licenses marine activities in English waters, including construction, dredging, and deposits at sea. Issues marine licences for offshore renewable energy projects below …
Natural Resources Wales
Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues environmental permits, …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.