Royal Fish

Royal Fish is an ancient British legal term, for certain aquatic animals of rare occurence in British waters, that are statutorily reserved for the particular use of, and consumption by, the British monarch.

Covered by the statute are:

• The sturgeon
• Sea turtles
• Whales, dolphins and porpoises.
• Swans

For swans, the statute provides full protection from molestation by anyone other than a royal agent. The others, if encountered, must be notified immediately to the coastguard, and surrendered promptly to the Official Receiver of Wreck, upon demand [1].