{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/salmon-and-freshwater-fisheries-act-1975/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/salmon-and-freshwater-fisheries-act-1975/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1975/51",
  "legislation_title": "Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/salmon-and-freshwater-fisheries-act-1975",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Poisonous matter and polluting effluent.",
  "text": "(1) ... any person who causes or knowingly permits to flow, or puts or knowingly permits to be put, into any waters containing fish or into any tributaries of waters containing fish, any liquid or solid matter to such an extent as to cause the waters to be poisonous or injurious to fish or the spawning grounds, spawn or food of fish, shall be guilty of an offence.\n(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(3) Proceedings under this section shall not be instituted except by the appropriate agency or by a person who has first obtained a certificate from the Minister that he has a material interest in the waters alleged to be affected.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) repealed (12.1.2010) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), s. 324(3), Sch. 22 Pt. 5(B); S.I. 2009/3345, art. 2, Sch. para. 27(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 4(2) repealed (12.1.2010) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), ss. 233(2)(a), 324(3), Sch. 22 Pt. 5(B); S.I. 2009/3345, art. 2, Sch. paras. 16, 27(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(3) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (No. 755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 129 (with Sch. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 4 excluded (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 60, SIF 130), ss. 2, 4(2), Sch. 1 para. 30(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 4 modified by SI 2010/675 Sch. 23 Pt. 8 para. 3 Table 9 (as substituted (1.10.2011) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2043), reg. 1(b), Sch. 1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 4 modified (1.1.2017) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154), reg. 1(1), Sch. 23 paras. 1(3), 2 Table 9 (with regs. 1(3), 77-79, Sch. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 4 amended by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 103(1), 113(4), 123(1) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), 194(9), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58)S. 4 amended (27.8.1993) by 1993 c. 12, ss. 40, 51(2), Sch. 3 Pt. I para.4"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/51/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:37:31.022413+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}