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Net and trap licences and authorisations

Response to Defra consultation

Summary

The Environment Agency welcomes this opportunity to comment on the consultation on net and trap licences and authorisations. Our comments are made in the context of our role as the regulatory authority for salmon, trout, freshwater, eel, lamprey and smelt fisheries.       

  • We welcome the proposal to provide licences only for those fisheries that pose a lower risk to stocks or to the aquatic environment.
  • We also support the authorisation process for the fisheries protection and the flexibility this will provide.
  • The proposals relating to authorisation will result in an increased workload for the Environment Agency, although this is not expected to be significant.
  • We will need to develop and consult on the principles and criteria of the authorisation process during 2010.
  • We believe this approach with allow us to protect and better manage fisheries, whilst also contributing to governments' better regulation agenda.

Read our full response