English Nature and the Environment Agency are consulted on every application for a license. This act gives the Minister power to make an Order to restrict the import, keeping or release of live fish, or their eggs and gametes, of non-native species. Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 Section 30 of this Act makes it an offence to introduce fish into an inland water without first obtaining the written consent of the Environment Agency. This Order makes it an offence to release or keep certain specified species of fish without a licence. For a licence to keep non-native crayfish in England and Wales, although no licence is needed to keep signal crayfish in certain areas.
Similar legislation applies in Scotland.
This Order controls the import into Great Britain from non-EU countries of all live molluscan and crustacean shellfish and their eggs and gametes. These two sets of Regulations implement EC Directives regarding veterinary inspections of consignments. This Order makes it a requirement for anyone carrying on a business of fish farming to register the business with the Ministry and to keep movement records and a record of mortalities.