asked Her Majesty's Government:What recent action has been taken to enforce the Import of Live Fish (England and Wales) Act 1980. [HL3614]

The Prohibition of Keeping or Release of Live Fish (Specified Species) Order 1998, made under the Import of Live Fish (England and Wales) Act 1980, introduced new measures to protect native flora and fauna in England and Wales. Under the terms of the order a licence is required to keep or release certain non-native fish species. Since the new licensing arrangements were brought into effect on 1 November 1998, over 550 licences have been issued in England and Wales. Enforcement of the order is being carried out jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture's Fish Health Inspectorate and the Environment Agency. The first case under the new arrangements involving the unlicensed introduction of non-native fish was successfully prosecuted by the Environment Agency on 2 July.