Is aquaponics legal in the UK?

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aquaponics
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Question by Olly: Is aquaponics legal in the UK?
If you didn’t know Aquaponics is a system that has a fish tank and a plant growing bed linked together. Water is circulated around the two to provide the plants with nutrients from fish waste. This system is very efficient and i would love to make one however i am unsure on its legality.

I am trying to find out if aquaponics is legal in the UK? My step dad and i would like to make one but my step dad told me that he is unsure about it because there is something about if a farmer wants to own fish they have to own a license. Does anyone know if there is a document online about this? i would like to know what is the maximum i can have but i am also interested in possibly taking this further as a Commercial Business so i would also like to know about owning a mass of fish and if i really do need a license.

Any input will be helpful 😀

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One Response to Is aquaponics legal in the UK?

  1. Do you plan on selling the end product? If so you’ll need a license. Otherwise you’re a hobbyist.

    The other question is whether this will be an outdoor system, or an indoor closed system. Outdoor Aquaponics is a subject of concern because they don’t want contaminants in the watershed or yet another “escaped” species. As such, they will want you to get a license, even without the profit motive.

    Now if you’re proposing an indoor fish farm, couple with an indoor hydroponics style growing beds, a closed system, they’ll only object if you sell the end product, as with any meat producing enterprise.

    Smells like New Screen Names
    December 10, 2011 at 2:04 pm
    Reply

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