GovWire

Use this form to apply to the Fish Health Inspectorate to obtain a licence to keep all species of non-native crayfish in England and Wales. Except for :

• signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)
• spiny cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus)
• red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)
• virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis)
• marbled crayfish (Procambarus fallax f. virginalis (Procambarus virginalis)

Natural England (NE) is the licensing authority for the management of the species listed above in England. The email contact for NE is invasive-alien-species-licence@naturalengland.org.uk

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the licensing authority for the management of the species listed above in Wales. The email contact for NRW is specieslicence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Trapping

You must not trap non-native crayfish without written consent from the Environment Agency (EA) in England or NRW in Wales.

The EA is the licensing authority for the trapping of crayfish under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

You also need permission from the landowner and any relevant angling clubs.

Contact the EA: Permission to trap crayfish, eels, elvers, salmon and sea trout