Crayfish: apply for permission to trap or remove

You must have certain permissions before you trap or remove crayfish.

Native crayfish

You must not trap or remove any native crayfish in England without written permission from the Environment Agency.

Native (white-clawed) crayfish are a protected species – you can only trap them for scientific purposes. It is an offence to harm or remove native white clawed crayfish.

You can register for a licence for activities affecting white-clawed crayfish with Natural England.

Non-native crayfish

You must not trap or remove any non-native crayfish in England without written permission from the Environment Agency.

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

In some areas you also need a licence to keep non-native crayfish alive after trapping. Find out more in the guidance on how to apply for a licence to keep non-native crayfish.

Crayfish trapping and removal rules

There are strict rules about the design and size of crayfish traps because they can harm other wildlife. If traps are the wrong size or design your application will be refused.

Traps must:

• be no longer than 600mm
• be no wider than 350mm at the widest point
• have an entrance no more than 95mm wide (unless fitted with an otter guard)
• have mesh no bigger than 30mm at its widest point
• have an Environment Agency issued trapping tag attached when in use

You must:

• return fish species not covered by your permission to the water they came from
• comply with the conditions of your issued permission

You must not transport or take live crayfish away from the location you caught them. There are 2 exceptions to this:

• if you have a licence, for example, to keep live crayfish for commercial processing on your premises in England
• if you have a permit to keep live specimens for research or conservation in England and Wales

Other crayfish removal methods that require permission

You must apply for permission to remove crayfish by any other method. For example:

• fyke nets
• drop nets
• hand net
• by hand
• artificial refuge traps

Charges

There are no charges for permissions to trap or remove crayfish.

Apply to trap or remove crayfish

To complete the application you’ll need to know:

• the location and national grid reference of the site
• the size and type of water
• if the site has a conservation designation
• when and why you’ll trap or remove crayfish
• which trapping or removal methods you’ll use
• the number and size of traps
• which crayfish species you plan to trap or remove

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If your application is approved

You’ll be sent an authorisation document with tags. You must make sure the tags are attached to your equipment at all times when in use.

If you catch any species not listed on your authorisation, you must return them to the water they came from, with as little damage and as soon as possible.

Protect water voles

Your application may be refused if there are risks to water vole populations.

You are breaking the law if you:

• recklessly allow water voles to drown in crayfish traps
• place traps in the entrances to water vole tunnels

You may be allowed to use baited drop nets in areas where water voles are present. Check this with your local fisheries officer at the Environment Agency.

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Apply for permission or find out more

Form CR1: Application to trap or remove crayfish in England

PDF, 709 KB, 3 pages

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Report people catching crayfish illegally

Find out how to report illegal fishing in England.