Collection

Otter licences

Licences for activities affecting otters, a protected species.

• From: Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 6 October 2014

Find out how otters are protected, including surveys.

Licences to possess, sell or capture otters

• European protected species: apply for a licence to possess them (A37 and LR37)
  • 8 March 2022
  • Form
• Licence to possess plants and animals for scientific purposes (CL01)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Licence to sell animal specimens taken before October 1981 (CL07)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Licence to sell protected plants and animals (A38 and LR38)
  • 1 March 2022
  • Form
• Otters: licence to capture and transport those trapped in fisheries to prevent damage (CL36)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Protected animals: licence for taxidermists to own dead animals (GL02)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Wild animals: licence for individuals to possess specimens (CL06)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Wild birds and animals: licence to possess samples (GL10)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance

Licences to survey or research otters

• Protected species licence for science, education or conservation (A29)
  • 1 April 2025
  • Form

Otter mitigation licences

• Otters: apply for a mitigation licence (A45)
  • 1 April 2025
  • Form

Published 6 October 2014