t1) How to comply with the law

If you buy or sell wild salmon or sea trout in England, it is against the law to:

sell, offer to sell or barter, fish caught by rod and line (including fish caught by rod and line outside of England)

handle fish which have been caught illegally

handle fish that are ‘unclean’

handle fish which have been taken during the close season

Different parts of England and Wales have different close seasons, although no salmon net fishery can open until 1 June. For details of the close season see the freshwater rod fishing rules (byelaws).

You could receive a substantial fine if you handle salmon or sea trout that have been caught or sold illegally. These offences apply to whole fish and portions of fish.

None of these offences apply to farmed salmon and sea trout.

2) Carcass tags

It’s easy to find out which fish can be bought and sold legally.

Any salmon or sea trout caught in a licensed net or trap fishery in England must have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached through its mouth and gills. This must remain attached until the fish is processed. Fish caught in licensed net fisheries in Wales must also be tagged, as should net caught fish in some Scottish fisheries.

Salmon and sea trout caught in 2016 must have a yellow tag:

(Except for salmon caught in the Solway Firth net fishery, or in the rivers Tamar, Tavy or Lynher.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Solway Firth net fishery regulated by the Environment Agency must have a blue tag:

(Fish caught in waters regulated by the Scottish Government may have a different tag.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Tamar, Tavy and Lynher must have a pink tag:

Rod caught and illegally caught fish won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached.

Salmon caught by anglers fishing on some rivers may carry a different tag, used where anglers are limited in the number of fish they can take. These fish must not be sold.

Illegally caught fish may also have:

spear or gaff wounds

snare or gill net marks

You may still trade in farmed and imported net caught fish, but these won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag.

If you want further proof of where fish have come from, especially if they are imported, ask the seller for a signed receipt that shows:

the seller’s name and address

how many fish were sold and their tag identification numbers

how the fish were caught

when and where the fish were caught

the name and licence number of the person that caught the fish

3) What ‘unclean’ fish are

An ‘unclean’ fish is one that is about to spawn, is spawning, or has recently spawned and has not yet recovered.

These fish can be a dark colour with red spots on their gill covers. Their fins may be ragged, and eggs or milt (a white milky substance) may run from the vent. Unclean fish are not good to eat.

You will be breaking the law if you buy or sell unclean fish.

4) When to contact the Environment Agency

Contact the Environment Agency if you are offered wild salmon or sea trout you suspect have been rod caught, illegally caught or are unclean. We will treat all information as confidential.

Call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (freephone 24 hour service).1) How to comply with the law

If you buy or sell wild salmon or sea trout in England, it is against the law to:

sell, offer to sell or barter, fish caught by rod and line (including fish caught by rod and line outside of England)

handle fish which have been caught illegally

handle fish that are ‘unclean’

handle fish which have been taken during the close season

Different parts of England and Wales have different close seasons, although no salmon net fishery can open until 1 June. For details of the close season see the freshwater rod fishing rules (byelaws).

You could receive a substantial fine if you handle salmon or sea trout that have been caught or sold illegally. These offences apply to whole fish and portions of fish.

None of these offences apply to farmed salmon and sea trout.

2) Carcass tags

It’s easy to find out which fish can be bought and sold legally.

Any salmon or sea trout caught in a licensed net or trap fishery in England must have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached through its mouth and gills. This must remain attached until the fish is processed. Fish caught in licensed net fisheries in Wales must also be tagged, as should net caught fish in some Scottish fisheries.

Salmon and sea trout caught in 2016 must have a yellow tag:

(Except for salmon caught in the Solway Firth net fishery, or in the rivers Tamar, Tavy or Lynher.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Solway Firth net fishery regulated by the Environment Agency must have a blue tag:

(Fish caught in waters regulated by the Scottish Government may have a different tag.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Tamar, Tavy and Lynher must have a pink tag:

Rod caught and illegally caught fish won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached.

Salmon caught by anglers fishing on some rivers may carry a different tag, used where anglers are limited in the number of fish they can take. These fish must not be sold.

Illegally caught fish may also have:

spear or gaff wounds

snare or gill net marks

You may still trade in farmed and imported net caught fish, but these won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag.

If you want further proof of where fish have come from, especially if they are imported, ask the seller for a signed receipt that shows:

the seller’s name and address

how many fish were sold and their tag identification numbers

how the fish were caught

when and where the fish were caught

the name and licence number of the person that caught the fish

3) What ‘unclean’ fish are

An ‘unclean’ fish is one that is about to spawn, is spawning, or has recently spawned and has not yet recovered.

These fish can be a dark colour with red spots on their gill covers. Their fins may be ragged, and eggs or milt (a white milky substance) may run from the vent. Unclean fish are not good to eat.

You will be breaking the law if you buy or sell unclean fish.

4) When to contact the Environment Agency

Contact the Environment Agency if you are offered wild salmon or sea trout you suspect have been rod caught, illegally caught or are unclean. We will treat all information as confidential.

Call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (freephone 24 hour service).

1) How to comply with the law

If you buy or sell wild salmon or sea trout in England, it is against the law to:

sell, offer to sell or barter, fish caught by rod and line (including fish caught by rod and line outside of England)

handle fish which have been caught illegally

handle fish that are ‘unclean’

handle fish which have been taken during the close season

Different parts of England and Wales have different close seasons, although no salmon net fishery can open until 1 June. For details of the close season see the freshwater rod fishing rules (byelaws).

You could receive a substantial fine if you handle salmon or sea trout that have been caught or sold illegally. These offences apply to whole fish and portions of fish.

None of these offences apply to farmed salmon and sea trout.

2) Carcass tags

It’s easy to find out which fish can be bought and sold legally.

Any salmon or sea trout caught in a licensed net or trap fishery in England must have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached through its mouth and gills. This must remain attached until the fish is processed. Fish caught in licensed net fisheries in Wales must also be tagged, as should net caught fish in some Scottish fisheries.

Salmon and sea trout caught in 2016 must have a yellow tag:

(Except for salmon caught in the Solway Firth net fishery, or in the rivers Tamar, Tavy or Lynher.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Solway Firth net fishery regulated by the Environment Agency must have a blue tag:

(Fish caught in waters regulated by the Scottish Government may have a different tag.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Tamar, Tavy and Lynher must have a pink tag:

Rod caught and illegally caught fish won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached.

Salmon caught by anglers fishing on some rivers may carry a different tag, used where anglers are limited in the number of fish they can take. These fish must not be sold.

Illegally caught fish may also have:

spear or gaff wounds

snare or gill net marks

You may still trade in farmed and imported net caught fish, but these won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag.

If you want further proof of where fish have come from, especially if they are imported, ask the seller for a signed receipt that shows:

the seller’s name and address

how many fish were sold and their tag identification numbers

how the fish were caught

when and where the fish were caught

the name and licence number of the person that caught the fish

3) What ‘unclean’ fish are

An ‘unclean’ fish is one that is about to spawn, is spawning, or has recently spawned and has not yet recovered.

These fish can be a dark colour with red spots on their gill covers. Their fins may be ragged, and eggs or milt (a white milky substance) may run from the vent. Unclean fish are not good to eat.

You will be breaking the law if you buy or sell unclean fish.

4) When to contact the Environment Agency

Contact the Environment Agency if you are offered wild salmon or sea trout you suspect have been rod caught, illegally caught or are unclean. We will treat all information as confidential.

Call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (freephone 24 hour service).1) How to comply with the law

If you buy or sell wild salmon or sea trout in England, it is against the law to:

sell, offer to sell or barter, fish caught by rod and line (including fish caught by rod and line outside of England)

handle fish which have been caught illegally

handle fish that are ‘unclean’

handle fish which have been taken during the close season

Different parts of England and Wales have different close seasons, although no salmon net fishery can open until 1 June. For details of the close season see the freshwater rod fishing rules (byelaws).

You could receive a substantial fine if you handle salmon or sea trout that have been caught or sold illegally. These offences apply to whole fish and portions of fish.

None of these offences apply to farmed salmon and sea trout.

2) Carcass tags

It’s easy to find out which fish can be bought and sold legally.

Any salmon or sea trout caught in a licensed net or trap fishery in England must have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached through its mouth and gills. This must remain attached until the fish is processed. Fish caught in licensed net fisheries in Wales must also be tagged, as should net caught fish in some Scottish fisheries.

Salmon and sea trout caught in 2016 must have a yellow tag:

(Except for salmon caught in the Solway Firth net fishery, or in the rivers Tamar, Tavy or Lynher.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Solway Firth net fishery regulated by the Environment Agency must have a blue tag:

(Fish caught in waters regulated by the Scottish Government may have a different tag.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Tamar, Tavy and Lynher must have a pink tag:

Rod caught and illegally caught fish won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached.

Salmon caught by anglers fishing on some rivers may carry a different tag, used where anglers are limited in the number of fish they can take. These fish must not be sold.

Illegally caught fish may also have:

spear or gaff wounds

snare or gill net marks

You may still trade in farmed and imported net caught fish, but these won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag.

If you want further proof of where fish have come from, especially if they are imported, ask the seller for a signed receipt that shows:

the seller’s name and address

how many fish were sold and their tag identification numbers

how the fish were caught

when and where the fish were caught

the name and licence number of the person that caught the fish

3) What ‘unclean’ fish are

An ‘unclean’ fish is one that is about to spawn, is spawning, or has recently spawned and has not yet recovered.

These fish can be a dark colour with red spots on their gill covers. Their fins may be ragged, and eggs or milt (a white milky substance) may run from the vent. Unclean fish are not good to eat.

You will be breaking the law if you buy or sell unclean fish.

4) When to contact the Environment Agency

Contact the Environment Agency if you are offered wild salmon or sea trout you suspect have been rod caught, illegally caught or are unclean. We will treat all information as confidential.

Call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (freephone 24 hour service).1) How to comply with the law

If you buy or sell wild salmon or sea trout in England, it is against the law to:

sell, offer to sell or barter, fish caught by rod and line (including fish caught by rod and line outside of England)

handle fish which have been caught illegally

handle fish that are ‘unclean’

handle fish which have been taken during the close season

Different parts of England and Wales have different close seasons, although no salmon net fishery can open until 1 June. For details of the close season see the freshwater rod fishing rules (byelaws).

You could receive a substantial fine if you handle salmon or sea trout that have been caught or sold illegally. These offences apply to whole fish and portions of fish.

None of these offences apply to farmed salmon and sea trout.

2) Carcass tags

It’s easy to find out which fish can be bought and sold legally.

Any salmon or sea trout caught in a licensed net or trap fishery in England must have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached through its mouth and gills. This must remain attached until the fish is processed. Fish caught in licensed net fisheries in Wales must also be tagged, as should net caught fish in some Scottish fisheries.

Salmon and sea trout caught in 2016 must have a yellow tag:

(Except for salmon caught in the Solway Firth net fishery, or in the rivers Tamar, Tavy or Lynher.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Solway Firth net fishery regulated by the Environment Agency must have a blue tag:

(Fish caught in waters regulated by the Scottish Government may have a different tag.)

Salmon caught in 2016 in the Tamar, Tavy and Lynher must have a pink tag:

Rod caught and illegally caught fish won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag attached.

Salmon caught by anglers fishing on some rivers may carry a different tag, used where anglers are limited in the number of fish they can take. These fish must not be sold.

Illegally caught fish may also have:

spear or gaff wounds

snare or gill net marks

You may still trade in farmed and imported net caught fish, but these won’t have an Environment Agency carcass tag.

If you want further proof of where fish have come from, especially if they are imported, ask the seller for a signed receipt that shows:

the seller’s name and address

how many fish were sold and their tag identification numbers

how the fish were caught

when and where the fish were caught

the name and licence number of the person that caught the fish

3) What ‘unclean’ fish are

An ‘unclean’ fish is one that is about to spawn, is spawning, or has recently spawned and has not yet recovered.

These fish can be a dark colour with red spots on their gill covers. Their fins may be ragged, and eggs or milt (a white milky substance) may run from the vent. Unclean fish are not good to eat.

You will be breaking the law if you buy or sell unclean fish.

4) When to contact the Environment Agency

Contact the Environment Agency if you are offered wild salmon or sea trout you suspect have been rod caught, illegally caught or are unclean. We will treat all information as confidential.

Call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (freephone 24 hour service).utory guidance