Applications open for bass authorisations
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) today invites interested fishermen to apply for a limited number of bass authorisations.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) today invites interested fishermen to apply for a limited number of bass authorisations.
Sixty-five authorisations will be made available to English licensed single hulled under- 8 metre vessels who will be picked through a written application followed by a blind selection for those who show they are eligible under the terms of the process.
The authorisations are currently not being used and will enable successful applicants to fish with hook and line only. They will be limited to vessels that do not currently have a bass authorisation.
An unused authorisation is one that is no longer linked to a fishing vessel, for example because the vessel has been retired. Anyone with an existing bass authorisation will not be affected.
These opportunities follow the outcomes of the 2025 bass authorisation review and are being delivered under the bass fisheries management plan (FMP).
Full guidance including details on eligibility, conditions and application routes is available at MMO Fisheries Management Plan Updates
The process will close at midnight on Monday 21 December 2026 giving fishermen six weeks to submit their applications.
MMO will undertake engagement around the coast to answer questions and help with the process. Dates, times and places for these events will be published on the FMP blog.
Tim Dixon, MMO’s Head of Fisheries Management, said:
I’m very pleased to announce the application process for 65 bass fishing authorisations is open now.
We are committed to engaging with fishermen who wish to apply to help them understand the application requirements so the process is transparent and manageable.
Applying will not guarantee access to the bass fishery, but every application will be considered – so I urge all fishermen who want to apply to keep an eye on the blog to find out when we’ll be holding events near them.
The bass fishery has been carefully managed since 2015 to support stock recovery, with measures such as catch limits, seasonal closures, and authorisations helping to reduce pressure on the stock.
While these measures have improved sustainability, a review of bass fishing identified a need to ensure wider access to opportunities and to support other goals such as reducing discards and supporting coastal communities.
The decision to allocate unused bass authorisations stems from engagement with industry and wider stakeholders as part of fisheries management planning.