Salmon Act 1986

The Salmon Act 1986 is an act of Parliament which outlines the difference between legal and illegal salmon fishery, among other things. The Act also makes it illegal to "handle salmon in suspicious circumstances".[1] The Act defines what "suspicious circumstances" are, however, as when salmon has been fished illegally.

Salmon Act 1986
Long titleAn Act to make fresh provision for the administration of salmon fisheries in Scotland; to provide as to the licensing and regulation of salmon dealing in Scotland and in England and Wales; to provide for, and as respects, certain offences in the law of Scotland and in the law of England and Wales in connection with salmon; to amend the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, section 5 of the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 and section 9 of the Diseases of Fish Act 1983; to provide for the review of salmon fishing by means of nets; and for connected purposes.
Citation1986 c. 62
Territorial extentEngland and Wales; Scotland
Dates
Royal assent7 November 1986
Commencement7 November 1986
Status: Amended
Text of the Salmon Act 1986 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Provisions

The act contains 43 paragraphs, dealing with a wide range of detailed matters relating to salmon fisheries. Matters covered include

  1. the definition and registration of "salmon fishery", the legal regulation of close seasons on such fisheries, and the constitution and governance of salmon fishery boards.
  2. regulation of the methods allowed for salmon fishing (specifically, giving the Secretary of State the power to define what is meant by various forms of net fishing)
  3. regulation of the trade in salmon dealers.

A large part of the Act updates Victorian-era legislation, for instance, the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1868.

Handling Salmon in Suspicious Circumstances

Section 32 of the Act is headed "Handling Salmon in Suspicious Circumstances".[2] This section creates an offence in England and Wales or Scotland for any person who receives or disposes of any salmon in circumstances where they believe, or could reasonably believe, that the salmon has been illegally fished. Essentially, this is a provision aimed at reducing salmon poaching by making the handling of poached salmon a criminal offence. Section 22 introduces a parallel provision into Scottish law.[3]

This offence is often cited, without its context, in lists of quirky or absurd laws—often alongside archaic or downright mythical "laws".

References
  1. Bell, Bethan (2016-05-31). "Odd laws you may unknowingly break". Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  2. "Salmon Act 1986". Legislation.gov.uk. National Archives. Section 32.
  3. "Salmon Act 1986". Legislation.gov.uk. National Archives. Section 22.
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