Riparian owners and fishing rights

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Published by a LexisNexis Property expert

Practice notes

Riparian owners and fishing rights

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Published by a LexisNexis Property expert

Practice notes

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This Practice Note looks at riparian Ownership of non-tidal waterways, dealing with the fishing rights which may attach to such ownership and provides links to other relevant content on the extent of the ownership of land adjoining waterways and the rights and responsibilities which can accompany ownership of land adjoining a river or stream.

Extent of ownership

There is a presumption that the owner of land adjoining a natural, non-tidal river or stream also owns the riverbed up to the centre line of the river or stream. Where the land on either side of the river or stream is in separate ownership, each owner owns half the river bed.

This presumption will only operate where there is no evidence to the contrary.

For more detailed content on the extent of ownership of land adjoining waterways (including lakes, tidal waters and the effect of accretion and diluvion), see Practice Notes: Property boundaries—Presumptions and The ‘ad medium filum’ rule.

Rights and responsibilities of riparian owners other than fishing rights

Riparian ownership can bring with it certain rights and responsibilities

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Jurisdiction(s):

United Kingdom

Key definition:

Ownership definition

What does Ownership mean?

The term ownership denotes a wide array of rights over property.

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