Before you introduce fish into rivers or stillwater fisheries you must get written consent from the Environment Agency. If you are introducing fish to open waters, where water can flow from one body of water to another, a health check is required.

Health checks test a fish sample for serious diseases or parasites that are not native to this country. They also check whether fish are ‘clinically infected’ with native parasites and are fit for introduction. There’s a minimum number of fish that need to be checked to give an acceptable chance of diseases and parasites being detected.

Only approved independent fish health consultants can carry out health checks. Link to IFM list of approved health checkers. You may need to deliver the fish to them, or they may be able to carry out the test at your fishery.

This guide explains why health checks are needed and the diseases and parasites they test for. It gives details of accredited consultants that are able to carry out the checks.

Read the rest of this guide on the Gov UK website.