The act contains 70 paragraphs, dealing with a wide range of detailed matters relating to salmon fisheries.

As originally enacted, section 32 of the act was headed "Handling salmon in suspicious circumstances".

[3] As amended by section 229 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, section 32 is now headed "Handling fish in suspicious circumstances"; consequently, it now applies not only to salmon but also to trout, eels, lampreys, smelt, and freshwater fish, as well as any additional fish that may be specified by an order under section 40A of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

[4] The offence (whether as originally enacted, as amended by the Marine and Coastal Access Act, or both) is regularly cited, often without context, in lists of British laws that are deemed to be quirky, absurd, or archaic.

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