July 2026 proposed catch limit review
Published 16 June 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/july-2026-catch-limit-review/july-2026-proposed-catch-limit-review
1. Overview of Catch limit Changes already proposed
The catch limit changes below have been proposed for an in-month change.
2. Under-10 meter vessels
| Stock by Area | June 2026 | June 2026 Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Sole – Area 7e | 2.0t | 2.5t |
2.1 Over-10 meter vessels
| Stock by Area | June 2026 | June 2026 Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Whiting – Area 7 bce-k - BYCATCH ONLY | 0.75t | 1t |
2.2 Sole 7e Catch limit Change
MMO have decided to increase the catch limit for sole in ICES area 7e from 2t to 2.5t per month, making use of available quota received in allocation and additional tonnage secured through transfers into the non-sector pools.
Whilst reviewing this catch limit, the MMO have considered a range of factors including issues relating to the octopus bloom and increased gear conflict/ competition for space, within the Lyme Bay area.
The MMO do not believe that this increase in the sole catch limit will cause a significant increase in effort within the Lyme Bay area. The request to increase this catch limit was received from a small number of vessels who were operating close to the catch limit.
A review of uptake has been completed, showing that only a small number of vessels are catching at levels close to the catch limit and that overall uptake is significantly behind previous years. Uptake for the 10 m and under non-sector pool is down by over 20% on the previous three-year average.
Therefore, with uptake behind previous years and a significant amount of available quota remaining we have taken the decision to increase the catch limit. This will allow the available quota to be used steadily over the remainder of the year and ensure sustainable utilisation of this key quota whilst remaining within the limits of the total allowable catch.