UK Act of Parliament 1975 United Kingdom

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975

An Act to consolidate the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1923 and certain other enactments relating to salmon and freshwater fisheries, and to repeal certain obsolete enactments relating to such fisheries.

Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Enforced by
Environment Agency, MMO, NRW
Status
In Force
Penalty ceiling
Regulated 2 of 8 obligations carry a criminal penalty. 6 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Licence Holder2 Any Person2

Plus 4 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Licence Holder — also bound by 225 other Acts
Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

Prohibition of Certain Modes of Taking or Destroying Fish,

0 of 5 sections shown
5 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.001 Prohibited implements. (opens in a new tab)
s.002 Roe, spawning and unclean fish, etc. (opens in a new tab)
s.003 Nets. (opens in a new tab)
s.004 Poisonous matter and polluting effluent. (opens in a new tab)
s.005 Prohibition of use of explosives, poisons or electrical devices and of destruction of dams etc. (opens in a new tab)
Part 2

Obstructions to Passage of Fish

0 of 13 sections shown
13 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.006 Fixed engines. (opens in a new tab)
s.007 Fishing weirs. (opens in a new tab)
s.008 Fishing mill dams. (opens in a new tab)
s.009 Duty to make and maintain fish passes. (opens in a new tab)
s.010 Power of appropriate agency to construct and alter fish passes. (opens in a new tab)
s.011 Minister’s consents and approvals for fish passes. (opens in a new tab)
s.012 Penalty for injuring or obstructing fish pass or free gap. (opens in a new tab)
s.013 Sluices. (opens in a new tab)
s.014 Screens. (opens in a new tab)
s.015 Power of appropriate agency to use screens etc. to limit movements of salmon and trout. (opens in a new tab)
s.016 Boxes and cribs in weirs and dams. (opens in a new tab)
s.017 Restrictions on taking salmon or trout above or below an obstruction or in mill races. (opens in a new tab)
s.018 Provisons supplementary to Part II. (opens in a new tab)
Part 3

Times of Fishing and Selling and Exporting Fish

0 of 6 sections shown
6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.019 Close seasons and close times. (opens in a new tab)
s.020 Close seasons and close times—fixed engines and obstructions. (opens in a new tab)
s.021 Eel baskets etc. (opens in a new tab)
s.022 Sale of salmon and trout. (opens in a new tab)
s.023 Export of salmon and trout. (opens in a new tab)
s.024 Consignment of salmon and trout. (opens in a new tab)
Part 4

Fishing Licences and authorisations

0 of 5 sections shown
5 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.025 Licences to fish. (opens in a new tab)
s.026 Limitation of fishing licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.027 Unlicensed fishing. (opens in a new tab)
s.027 Authorisation of fishing otherwise than by licensable means
s.027 Unauthorised fishing
Part 5

Administration and Enforcement

0 of 11 sections shown
11 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.028 General powers and duties of water authorities and Minister. (opens in a new tab)
s.029 Fish rearing licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.030 Introduction of fish into inland waters. (opens in a new tab)
s.031 Powers of search etc. (opens in a new tab)
s.032 Power to enter lands. (opens in a new tab)
s.033 Orders and warrants to enter suspected premises. (opens in a new tab)
s.034 Power to apprehend persons fishing illegally .... (opens in a new tab)
s.035 Power to require production of fishing licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.036 Provisions supplementary to sections 31 to 35. (opens in a new tab)
s.037 Prosecution etc. of offences. (opens in a new tab)
s.037 Fixed penalty notices for certain offences.
Part 6

Miscellaneous and Supplementary

0 of 8 sections shown
8 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.038 Works below high water mark. (opens in a new tab)
s.039 Border rivers and Solway Firth. (opens in a new tab)
s.040 River Severn. (opens in a new tab)
s.040 Power to specify fish
s.040 Orders: supplementary
s.041 Interpretation. (opens in a new tab)
s.042 Repeals etc. (opens in a new tab)
s.043 Citation etc. (opens in a new tab)
Schedules

Schedules

8 of 75 shown
s.sch002 The date of entry in the licence shall be stated... Regulated
  • Record date of entry in licence and send copy to agency within 24 hoursLicence Holder
s.sch002 Any person who, with intent to deceive, enters on a... Regulated
  • Misuse of fishing licence by entering extra names or false datesAny Person
s.sch002 Subject to section 26 above, a fishing licence shall be... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Appropriate agency must grant fishing licences to eligible applicantsStatutory regulator
s.sch002 The appropriate agency shall at least one month before fixing... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Agency must publish notice before fixing or altering fishing licence dutiesStatutory regulator
s.sch002 If during the month immediately following the publication of a... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Agency must not fix or alter duty without approval if objection madeStatutory regulator
s.sch002 There shall be payable in respect of a general licence... Regulated
  • Pay the agreed sum for a general licenceLicence Holder
s.sch004 A person who is prosecuted for an offence against this... Regulated
  • Fail to surrender fishing licence after court orderAny Person
s.sch004 Where any fish or any other thing of a perishable... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulator must pay net proceeds of perishable seized goods to owner on demandStatutory regulator
67 other schedules
s.sch001 Close Seasons and Close Times
s.sch001 Close Seasons and Close Times
s.sch001 Close Seasons and Close Times
s.sch001 Close Seasons and Close Times
s.sch001 Close Seasons and Close Times
s.sch001 Close Seasons and Close Times
s.sch002 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, there shall be payable...
s.sch002 The name and address of a servant or agent may...
s.sch002 Licences
s.sch002 The number of servants or agents whose names may at...
s.sch002 (1) Where a fishing licence is granted in respect of...
s.sch002 A fishing licence shall not confer any right to fish...
s.sch002 A fishing licence shall not authorise the erection of any...
s.sch002 The production of a printed copy of a statement purporting...
s.sch002 Different duties may be fixed under paragraph 1 above for...
s.sch002 The appropriate national authority , with or without a local...
s.sch002 The appropriate agency may grant a temporary licence, that is...
s.sch003 An order may provide— (a) for the imposition, collection and...
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s.sch003 An order shall not authorise a fixed engine to be...
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s.sch003 The Minister shall not grant a licence until he has...
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s.sch003 (1) Without prejudice to section 4 of the Water Resources...
s.sch003 An order may contain any incidental, consequential or supplemental provisions,...
s.sch003 An application for an order may be made by any...
s.sch003 The applicant for an order shall give such security for...
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s.sch004 (1) Column 2 of the Table below gives a description...
s.sch004 Where a court orders a fishing or general licence or...
s.sch004 Where any person is convicted of an offence against this...
s.sch004 A certificate under paragraph 12 above shall be receivable in...
s.sch004 In paragraphs 10 and 12 above “ proper officer ”...
s.sch004 Any offence against this Act committed on the sea-coast or...
s.sch004 Offences against this Act committed in Scotland shall be proceeded...
s.sch004 A justice of the peace shall not be disqualified from...
s.sch004 The court by which a person is convicted of an...
s.sch004 Schedule 3 to the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979...
s.sch004 An authorised officer may seize any fish bought, sold or...
s.sch004 If a person is convicted of an offence against this...
3 other provisions
sch. 2 para. 6n1 sch. 2 para. 6n1
sch. 2 para. 6n2 sch. 2 para. 6n2
sch. 2 para. 9n2 sch. 2 para. 9n2

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