Why is it Illegal to Handle Salmon Suspiciously in the UK?

The Salmon Act of 1986 is a rather peculiar piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that makes it illegal for anyone to handle salmon in “suspicious circumstances”. But what exactly constitutes suspicious handling of salmon? And why on earth was this law created in the first place? Let’s take a closer look at this quirky British law.

What Does the Law Actually Say?

The specific section of the Salmon Act that deals with suspicious salmon handling is Section 32. It states:

“A person is guilty of an offence if he receives, retains, disposes of or arranges to dispose of any salmon in circumstances where he believes, or could reasonably believe, that the salmon has been illegally fished.”

So in essence, if you possess, sell, move or get rid of salmon in any way that makes you think or suspect that the fish may have been caught or obtained illegally, you are breaking the law.

What are “Suspicious Circumstances”?

The act doesn’t clearly define what constitutes suspicious circumstances. But it seems to apply to situations where:

• You buy salmon from an unlicensed seller or fishmonger.
• You find salmon in a location where fishing is prohibited.
• You are given salmon as a gift but doubt the source.
• You come upon salmon under any circumstance that raises suspicion over its legal procurement.

So if you obtain salmon through means that don’t fully check out, it’s best to avoid handling it further

What Exactly Constitutes “Handling” Salmon?

The law prohibits receiving, retaining, disposing of or arranging to dispose of suspicious salmon. So handling includes:

• Buying or being given the fish.
• Keeping it in your possession.
• Selling it, giving it away, trading it etc.
• Making arrangements to pass it on to someone else through any transaction.

Basically, any action that involves you taking ownership or control over questionably-sourced salmon is considered illegal handling.

What are the Penalties?

The maximum penalty upon conviction under the Salmon Act is a fine of up to £5,000 and up to 6 months imprisonment. However, most minor first offenses under this law typically result in small fines of a few hundred pounds.

The act also allows for salmon suspected of being illegally handled to be seized along with any equipment used for catching, keeping or transporting it.

Why Was This Bizarre Law Created?

The Salmon Act of 1986 was intended to consolidate and update various older fisheries laws, many dating back over 100 years. The suspicious salmon section aimed to cut down on poaching and illegal salmon fishing, which was seen as a problem at the time.

Outlawing the handling of dodgy salmon allows authorities to prosecute buyers and sellers of poached fish. By tackling the demand side, the law provides a deterrence to illegal fishing.

So while “handling salmon in suspicious circumstances” may sound laughably absurd today, the act was a serious legislative effort to regulate and protect dwindling British salmon stocks in the 1980s.

Famous Cases and Weird Salmon Crimes

• In 1997, two men were prosecuted for moving approximately 20 pounds of salmon from one end of a parking lot to another in “suspicious circumstances”. They were believed to have obtained the salmon illegally.

• In 1998, a fishmonger was convicted of illegally handling salmon after trying to sell fish caught out of season to undercover fisheries officers.

• In 2008, a man found a large salmon trapped in shallow water on his property. Though believing it to be dead, he avoided taking it just to be safe under the law. Authorities later seized and disposed of the fish.

So while charges of illegal salmon handling are rare, a few unlucky fish fanciers have found themselves in hot water for perceived dodgy dealings with Atlantic salmon.

Does This Law Still Matter?

The Salmon Act remains in force today. But prosecutions under the suspicious circumstances provision don’t occur very often. Still, in theory, anyone selling or receiving salmon outside legal channels could face criminal penalties.

The legislation has been updated over the years to expand the listing of fish it applies to. So today, the law covers not just salmon but also trout, eels, lampreys and more.

While illegal salmon handling may seem a petty or victimless crime, UK authorities still take protection of fishing stocks seriously. Perhaps this bizarre law has helped deter fish poaching to some degree. Or perhaps it just gave us one magnificently odd offense to add to the books. Either way, next time you acquire salmon from a shady source, consider finding less suspicious circumstances!