If you are importing ornamental aquatic animals, either for commercial purposes or for personal use, you must first register with the Marine Institute as an Ornamental Importer. Once you receive confirmation of your Registration as an Ornamental Importer, you may also be issued with a Username and Password so that you may apply on-line to Import Ornamental Species when necessary.
General Import Requirements
All importers must ensure that the import, sale or supply of aquatic animals does not present a risk to the health of those animals or the health of another aquatic animal.
All consignments of listed species must be accompanied by an appropriate health certificate stating that the animal is free of any listed diseases relevant to that species, if Ireland has been declared free of that disease.
All commercial imports of aquatic animals for ornamental purposes must be notified to the Marine Institute at least 24 hours in advance of departure from the site of origin. The only exceptions to this are consignments of non-listed species which originate in another EU member state.
Please click the links below for further information on:
Health Certification Requirements
Importing Non-Listed Aquatic Species
Ornamental Imports - Frequently Asked Questions
Importing Ornamental Crayfish - Prohibited Species
Please note it is now illegal to import, keep, breed, transport, sell, exchange, or release to the environment, all species of freshwater Crayfish, except for the native White-Clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes).
The European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 374 of 2024) came into force on 24th July 2024.
For further information on these regulations, please contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
https://www.npws.ie/contact-us