.svg){kind=small}
Summary
Magnet fishing is possible in many parts of the UK. A practical starting point is simple: if the owner or responsible authority has not prohibited magnet fishing and no special legal restriction applies, you can generally magnet fish there as long as you have lawful access to the location.
There are important exceptions. Magnet fishing is prohibited on Canal & River Trust waterways and in the tidal Thames. Scottish Canals requires permission and Scheduled Monument Consent. Other waterways, including Broads Authority 24-hour moorings, can be used for magnet fishing subject to the applicable access and safety rules.
Magnet fishing is not generally prohibited across the United Kingdom. There is no single national law banning the hobby everywhere in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This means the most useful approach is to look for restrictions applying to the specific waterway or property. If magnet fishing has not been prohibited by the relevant authority or owner and no other law restricts what you are doing, you can generally practise the hobby there.
Public access to a riverbank or towpath does not necessarily mean every activity is permitted, so ownership still matters. On private land, obtain the owner’s permission before entering or using the property.
Where is magnet fishing definitely prohibited in the UK?
Although there is no nationwide ban, several major waterway managers explicitly prohibit magnet fishing.
- Canal & River Trust waterways: magnet fishing is not allowed on the Trust’s waterways. This applies to the large network of canals and rivers it manages in England and Wales.
- Tidal River Thames: the Port of London Authority explicitly prohibits magnet fishing in the tidal Thames. A Thames foreshore permit does not give permission to magnet fish.
- Individual council or managed sites: some councils and land managers prohibit magnet fishing on particular properties. Always obey signs and published site rules.
These restrictions apply to the waterways or properties controlled by those organisations. They do not create a general prohibition covering every other river, lake, canal or pond in the UK.
Can you magnet fish on canals in England and Wales?
It depends on who manages the canal.
If the canal is managed by the Canal & River Trust, the answer is no. The Trust explicitly states that magnet fishing is not allowed on its waterways. It regards magnet fishing separately from ordinary angling.
However, not every waterway in England and Wales is controlled by the Canal & River Trust. Other canals, rivers, lakes and private waterways can have different owners and different rules.
If another waterway authority or owner does not prohibit magnet fishing, check that you have lawful access and that no heritage or local restriction applies. In that situation, magnet fishing can generally take place.
Where can you magnet fish in the Broads?
The Broads Authority gives one of the clearest examples of magnet fishing being accepted rather than prohibited.
The authority states that it has not banned magnet fishing from its 24-hour moorings. People taking part do so at their own risk and must avoid obstructing boats, anglers, paddlers and other users.
If you want to magnet fish from private land in the Broads, you need the landowner’s permission. Everything recovered from the water must be removed and disposed of responsibly. Leaving scrap on the bank can be treated as fly-tipping.
Can you magnet fish in London and the River Thames?
The River Thames needs a more precise answer because different sections are managed differently.
Magnet fishing is prohibited in the tidal Thames. The Port of London Authority states explicitly that magnet fishing is not allowed, including for people who hold a foreshore permit.
This restriction should not be expanded into a claim that magnet fishing is prohibited on every part of every waterway around London or throughout the Thames catchment. For locations outside the PLA restriction, check the relevant landowner and waterway manager.
Can you magnet fish in Scotland?
Yes, magnet fishing is possible in Scotland, but some waterways have special heritage restrictions.
On waterways managed by Scottish Canals, you must first obtain permission from Scottish Canals and Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic Environment Scotland. This is because Scotland’s historic canals are scheduled monuments.
Official Magnet Fishing Scotland already has consent covering a specified section of the Union Canal between Leamington Lift Bridge and Hermiston Aqueduct. Scottish Canals also explains how individuals can apply for their own consent for specific areas.
For Scottish waterways outside the Scottish Canals network, check the owner, access rights and any local or heritage restrictions. Do not automatically apply the Scottish Canals consent requirement to every loch and river in Scotland.
How do you find places where magnet fishing is allowed?
You do not need to find an official webpage that says “magnet fishing is allowed” for every ordinary location. A more practical approach is to determine whether there is a rule that actually prevents the activity.
- Identify the waterway or landowner. Find out who manages the river, canal, lake, bridge or bank.
- Search for an explicit magnet-fishing rule. Look for terms such as “magnet fishing”, “magnetic fishing”, “removal of objects” and “searching”.
- Check signs at the location. Local restrictions may be displayed even when they are difficult to find online.
- Check for protected heritage. Scheduled monuments and archaeological sites can have separate restrictions.
- Respect private property. If access requires crossing or using private land, ask the owner.
- If no prohibition or special permission requirement applies, magnet fishing is generally possible.
This approach avoids treating the absence of an official “permission page” as a ban. At the same time, it respects explicit restrictions wherever authorities have introduced them.
Do you need a magnet fishing licence in the UK?
There is no general UK magnet fishing licence that everyone must buy before using a fishing magnet.
Instead, special permission is location-specific. Scottish Canals requires permission and Scheduled Monument Consent. Canal & River Trust waterways and the tidal Thames prohibit the activity, so buying an ordinary angling or foreshore permit does not override those restrictions.
Where no magnet-fishing licence, permission requirement or prohibition has been introduced, you do not need to invent one. Check the local rules and ownership of the location instead.
What should you do with everything you find?
Responsible magnet fishing means taking responsibility for the objects you pull from the water.
- Take ordinary scrap metal home or dispose of it through an appropriate recycling or waste facility.
- Never leave sharp, rusty or heavy objects beside the water.
- Avoid blocking towpaths, moorings and bridges with ropes or recovered objects.
- Do not damage structures, boats, mooring lines or archaeological remains.
The Broads Authority specifically requires magnet fishers to take away everything they retrieve and warns that abandoned finds can constitute fly-tipping.
What if you find a firearm or unexploded ordnance?
UK waterways can contain firearms, ammunition and old military ordnance. If you recover something potentially dangerous, do not continue handling, cleaning or dismantling it.
If you suspect an explosive device, keep your distance, prevent other people from approaching and contact the emergency services on 999 when there is an immediate danger. For a firearm or other concerning find without an immediate emergency, contact the police and follow their instructions.
The Broads Authority specifically warns magnet fishers about possible weapons and unexploded ordnance and directs people to contact the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Conclusion
Magnet fishing is not generally banned throughout the UK. Rather than assuming you need special permission everywhere, first check whether the authority responsible for your chosen location has actually prohibited or restricted the activity.
Stay away from clearly prohibited waters such as Canal & River Trust waterways and the tidal Thames. Follow the special consent process on Scottish Canals. At places where no such restriction applies, make sure you have lawful access, respect private property and leave the waterside cleaner than you found it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is magnet fishing generally allowed in the UK?
There is no general UK-wide prohibition on magnet fishing. If the relevant owner or waterway authority has not prohibited the activity, no special legal restriction applies and you have lawful access to the location, magnet fishing is generally possible.
Is magnet fishing banned on every canal in England?
No. The Canal & River Trust explicitly prohibits magnet fishing on the waterways it manages, but that restriction should not automatically be applied to every canal or waterway owned by somebody else. Check who manages the specific location.
Can I magnet fish in the Broads?
The Broads Authority states that it has not banned magnet fishing at its 24-hour moorings. You must fish responsibly, avoid obstructing other water users and remove everything you recover. Permission is required when using private land.
Can I magnet fish in the River Thames?
Magnet fishing is prohibited in the tidal Thames by the Port of London Authority, including for foreshore permit holders. For other locations in the wider Thames catchment, check which authority or owner is responsible instead of automatically applying the tidal Thames rule everywhere.
Do I need a licence for magnet fishing?
There is no general UK magnet fishing licence. Some specific locations require permission or consent, such as waterways managed by Scottish Canals, while other authorities prohibit the activity entirely. Where no such requirement applies, there is no general magnet-fishing licence to obtain.