Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
What you must do
In Northern Ireland, you must hold a fish culture licence from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).
In Scotland, you must register with the Marine Scotland within two months of stocking your farm and commencing business.
You must have a seabed lease from the owner of the seabed, normally the Crown Estate, if you operate a:
- marine cage fish farm
- shellfish farm with physical structures on the seabed, for example bottom cultivation of bivalves.
Crown Estate: Marine aquaculture
In Shetland and parts of Orkney in addition to a seabed lease, you also must have a Marine Works Licence from the islands councils. In Shetland, the North Atlantic Fisheries College now processes applications for Marine Works Licences.
North Atlantic Fisheries College
Orkney Islands Council: Contact details
Good practice
In Scotland you can apply for a Several Order. This order will give you an exclusive right to deposit, propagate, dredge, fish for and take shellfish within the limits of your fishery. The order will relate to named species of shellfish and will be granted for a set period. When you apply for the order, you must submit a detailed management plan.
In Scotland a 'responsible organisation' can apply for a Regulating Order to manage and conserve a wild shellfishery. The organisation can then use licences to control the number of people who may fish there and regulate the fishing effort they make.
In Northern Ireland you can apply for a Shell Fishery Licence. This licence gives you an exclusive right to deposit, propagate, dredge, fish for, and take shellfish within a certain area. The licence will relate to named species of shellfish and will be granted for a set period.
Additional resources
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Waste – Duty of Care Roles and Responsibilities
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https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/waste-duty-care-responsibilities
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Please let us know your thoughts on our new website
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NEW guidance on Environmental Management Systems
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Consultation on proposed changes to the packaging recycling business targets
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NetRegs SMEnvironment survey 2016
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NIEA: Guidance on the Regulation of Greenfield Excavated Materials in Construction and Development
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ENDS Award Shortlist
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NetRegs wins an ENDS Environmental Impact Award
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EIA (Agriculture) Regulations for Northern Ireland
Any person intending to alter the use or management of areas of uncultivated or semi-natural land must obtain prior approval from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
Read more on the DAERA website
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Download our NEW leaflet today: Duty of Care for waste
NetRegs have produced a new leaflet for Scottish businesses explaining what you must do to comply with YOUR duty of care for waste.
Duty of Care for waste (Scotland) leaflet (PDF - 775KB)
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