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How to report illegal fishing in the UK

Who to tell about illegal fishing, poaching, illegal nets or fish being kept over the limit, in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland — and how to report it safely. The right authority depends on where you are, whether it is the sea or fresh water, and what is happening.

FishingHQ is not an enforcement body and does not take reports. It explains the rules and points to the authorities that do.

If anyone is in danger, call 999.

Call 999 too if a crime is happening now and anyone is at risk. Do not approach, challenge or follow anybody.

Finding the right authority: four questions and a rule

  1. 1. Where are you?

    Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland (the Republic of Ireland is separate).

  2. 2. What water?

    The sea and shore, or a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir.

  3. 3. What is happening?

    Fish kept over the limit or undersized, nets, no licence, no permission, or pollution.

  4. 4. Who to tell

    The authority for that combination, with the contact it publishes.

  5. 5. Report safely

    From a distance, without confronting anyone, and nothing posted online.

Someone in danger, or a crime happening now with anyone at risk: call 999 first, whatever the answers. Drawn for FishingHQ; not to scale.

Find the right authority

Answer three questions. Nothing you choose here is sent anywhere or stored.

1. Where are you?

What to note

Authorities can act on a report that is specific. If you can do so safely, note:

  • Where: a description of the place someone else could find, or a map reference.
  • When: the date and time, and whether it is still happening.
  • What you saw: how many people, what gear, roughly how many fish and whether they were kept.
  • Anything that would help find a boat or vehicle, given only to the authority and only if you saw it safely.
  • Photographs or video, only if you can take them from a distance without being seen and without any risk to yourself.

Describe what you saw rather than who you think someone is. A report about what is happening at a place and time is useful; a guess about a person's background is not.

Report safely

  • Do not confront anybody, challenge them, or try to stop what they are doing.
  • Do not follow people or vehicles, and do not go onto land or water you would not otherwise be allowed on.
  • Do not put yourself at risk on rocks, in the water or in the dark to see more.
  • Do not post photographs, names, registrations or accusations online. It can put you at risk, it can be unfair to people who have done nothing wrong, and an authority may be unable to use information that has been made public.
  • If someone is in danger or a crime is happening now and anyone is at risk, call 999.

What happens next

  • Most authorities do not tell the person who reported what they did. That is normal, and it does not mean nothing happened.
  • A report may be one of several about the same place. Authorities use reports to decide where to patrol and inspect as well as to act on a single incident.
  • A report is not proof. An authority may find no offence, or not enough evidence to act.

How fisheries enforcement works sets out what can happen between a report and a court.

Every route, by country

The same authorities as the guide above, listed in full. Numbers and hours are as each authority published them; each card links to the page they come from.

Scotland

  • Scottish Government Marine Directorate

    Enforces sea fisheries law in Scottish waters, including the recreational bass rules, from the shore and at sea.

    The form says reports can be anonymous, though contact details help, and that a report may turn out to involve no offence.

    The Directorate asks people not to go public on social media about what they report, and not to take the law into their own hands.

    As published on Scottish Government, Marine Directorate: Monitoring suspicious activity: marine and fisheries compliance, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear.

  • The District Salmon Fishery Board for the river

    Scotland's 39 boards and the River Tweed Commission appoint water bailiffs to prevent the illegal taking of salmon and sea trout. Where there is no board, the Scottish Government acts.

    • Find the board for a river (Fisheries Management Scotland): fms.scot

    For anything happening now, or fishing for other species without permission, the police are the first call.

    As published on Fisheries Management Scotland: About District Salmon Fishery Boards, read 26 October 2026.

    For: a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear; fishing without the owner's permission, or fish being stolen.

  • Police Scotland

    Fishing crime is crime. Police Scotland takes reports online or on 101 when nobody is in immediate danger.

    • Contact Police Scotland: scotland.police.uk
    • Police Scotland non-emergency: 101 (Relay UK users: 18001 101)
    • Emergency, or happening now with anyone at risk: 999

    Police Scotland's own advice is not to go near suspects or try to stop them.

    As published on Police Scotland: Contact us: how to report a crime, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore; a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear; fishing without the owner's permission, or fish being stolen.

  • SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)

    Pollution to water or land, dead fish or fish gasping for air, and other environmental damage.

    • Report an environmental incident: mygov.scot
    • Pollution hotline: 0800 80 70 60 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, as mygov.scot lists it)

    As published on mygov.scot (Scottish Government), for SEPA: Report an environmental incident, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore; a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — pollution, or dead or distressed fish.

England

Wales

  • Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

    Illegal fishing and environmental incidents in Welsh rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

    NRW prioritises the most serious incidents and does not give feedback on every report.

    As published on Natural Resources Wales: Report an environmental incident, read 26 October 2026.

    For: a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear; fishing without a required licence; pollution, or dead or distressed fish.

  • Welsh Government fisheries office

    The Welsh Government enforces sea fisheries law in Welsh waters, including the recreational bass rules. Its bass guidance gives the Milford Haven fisheries office as the contact.

    • Milford Haven Fisheries Office: 03000 253500
    • Fisheries office email: milfordhavenfisheriesoffice@gov.wales

    As published on Welsh Government: Bass fishing: 2026 guidance (updated 4 March 2026), read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear.

  • Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

    Environmental incidents, including pollution and dead fish.

    As published on Natural Resources Wales: Report an environmental incident, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore — pollution, or dead or distressed fish.

  • The police

    Fishing without the owner's permission and stealing fish are police matters.

    • Non-emergency: 101
    • If it is happening now: 999

    As published on GOV.UK, for the Environment Agency: Report illegal fishing in England, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore; a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — fishing without the owner's permission, or fish being stolen.

Northern Ireland

  • DAERA Environmental Incident Reporting System

    DAERA's online form, launched in June 2026, for marine, fisheries and natural environment incidents, including illegal fishing. It gives a reference number.

    Not for emergencies. DAERA directs wildlife crime, including poaching, to the PSNI.

    As published on Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): DAERA Environmental Incident Reporting System, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore; a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear; fishing without a required licence.

  • DAERA Inland Fisheries

    Illegal fishing in Northern Ireland's rivers and loughs outside the Foyle and Carlingford areas, under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966.

    • Office hours: 028 3833 9748 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
    • Illegal fishing and pollution hotline: 0800 807 060 (Outside office hours)

    Reports can be anonymous. DAERA says staff will investigate but will not be able to tell you the outcome.

    As published on Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): Inland Fisheries: contact us, read 26 October 2026.

    For: a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear; fishing without a required licence.

  • Loughs Agency (Foyle and Carlingford areas only)

    Protects the fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford catchments and loughs, on both sides of the border.

    As published on Loughs Agency: Contact us, and WaterWatch reporting, read 26 October 2026.

    For: a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir; the sea or the shore — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear; fishing without a required licence; pollution, or dead or distressed fish.

  • DAERA Sea Fisheries

    Sea fisheries in Northern Ireland's waters, for questions that are not an incident report.

    • Sea fisheries queries: seafisheries@daera-ni.gov.uk

    As published on Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): Contacting DAERA, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear.

  • PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland)

    DAERA directs wildlife crime, including poaching, to the PSNI. Crimes can be reported anonymously.

    As published on nidirect (Northern Ireland government services), for the PSNI: Reporting crime, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore; a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — fish being kept over the limit, undersized or out of season; nets, set lines or other illegal gear; fishing without the owner's permission, or fish being stolen.

  • Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)

    Water pollution and fish kills. DAERA's online incident form does not yet cover water pollution.

    As published on Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): Inland Fisheries: contact us, read 26 October 2026.

    For: the sea or the shore; a river, loch, lough, lake or reservoir — pollution, or dead or distressed fish.

The Republic of Ireland: a separate country

The Republic of Ireland is not part of the UK and has its own law and authorities. On the Foyle and Carlingford, which straddle the border, the Loughs Agency covers both sides; it is listed under Northern Ireland above.

  • Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA)

    Suspicious or illegal sea fishing in Irish waters.

    • Confidential line: 1800 76 76 76 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, with a 24-hour messaging service)
    • Confidential reporting: sfpa.ie

    Recreational angling and inland matters go to Inland Fisheries Ireland.

    As published on Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority: Confidential Reporting, read 26 October 2026.

  • Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)

    Illegal fishing, fish kills, fish in distress and water pollution in Ireland's rivers and lakes, and recreational sea angling.

    As published on Inland Fisheries Ireland: Contact us, read 26 October 2026.

Sources

  1. Monitoring suspicious activity: marine and fisheries compliance — Scottish Government, Marine Directorate.
  2. About District Salmon Fishery Boards — Fisheries Management Scotland.
  3. Contact us: how to report a crime — Police Scotland.
  4. Report an environmental incident — mygov.scot (Scottish Government), for SEPA.
  5. Report illegal fishing in England — GOV.UK, for the Environment Agency.
  6. About the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities — Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.
  7. Marine Management Organisation — GOV.UK, Marine Management Organisation.
  8. Report an environmental incident — Natural Resources Wales.
  9. Bass fishing: 2026 guidance (updated 4 March 2026) — Welsh Government.
  10. DAERA Environmental Incident Reporting System — Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
  11. Inland Fisheries: contact us — Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
  12. Contact us, and WaterWatch reporting — Loughs Agency.
  13. Contacting DAERA — Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
  14. Reporting crime — nidirect (Northern Ireland government services), for the PSNI.
  15. Confidential Reporting — Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
  16. Contact us — Inland Fisheries Ireland.
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