Transparency data

14 September 2026: Bass Management Group meeting minutes

Updated 13 October 2026

Date: 14 September 2026

Time: 10am to 1pm

Attendees

• Phil McBryde (Defra) Chair
• Peter Elliott (Defra)
• Chris Collins (Marine Management Organisation)
• Andrew Newlands (Marine Management Organisation)
• Rob Pearson (Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities)
• Kieran Hyder (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science)
• Grant Jones (Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society)
• Mike Roach (National Federation of Fisherman’s Organisations)
• Hannah Rudd (Angling Trust)
• Simon Toms (Environment Agency)
• Anna Sturrock (Essex University)
• Joseph Dawson (Essex University)
• Caitlin Turner (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
• Giulietta Holly (Natural England)

Apologies

• Grant Horsburgh (Defra)
• Richard Stride (South Coast Fisherman’s Council)
• Mike Cohen (National Federation of Fisherman’s Organisations)
• Andrew Pascoe (Cornish Fish Producers Organisation)
• Neil Witney (Commercial Fisherman)
• Chloe Rogers (United Kingdom Association of Fish Producer Organisations)
• Rob Thompson (Professional Boatman’s Association)

Agenda

1. Welcome, introduction and updates
2. Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) progress
3. EU negotiations
4. Closed season
5. Improving compliance
6. Any other business

Welcome, introductions and updates

The Chair welcomed members to the seventh meeting of the Bass Management Group (BMG), and, mindful of burdens on everyone’s time, asked members to consider if the length of the BMG meetings was still about right.

Defra confirmed that Bass Angling Conservation (BAC) had been removed from the group due to a publicly stated lack of support for the Bass FMP, its priorities and behaviours during meetings. Defra confirmed that a replacement recreational representative would be sought to maintain an appropriate balance between recreational and commercial representation. Members were reminded that the group depends on constructive collaboration and a shared commitment to delivering the Bass FMP.

Actions from the previous meeting

Actions from the previous meeting were reviewed. There was one outstanding action for Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society (BASS): share results from the recreational closed‑season survey, following the February 2026 event.

BASS to send separately outside the meeting. BASS caveat that in reading the results, they represented the views of a single-species angling organisation and should not be treated as representative of the wider recreational angling community.

FMP progress

Recreational handling guidance and data collection

Defra provided a brief update on the Angling Trust-led handling guidance work, as the Angling Trust representative was travelling.

The recreational guidance and accompanying video have been completed, with publication being arranged. A Defra blog post is also planned to support publication and wider promotion through government and Angling Trust channels.

Management measures task-and-finish group

MMO updated on the management measures task-and-finish group’s consideration of recommendations from the Bass authorisation review. Six areas had been considered.

Unused bass authorisations

Final preparations for an announcement of this scheme are being developed, and details will be circulated to the commercial fishing sector using various channels and engagement.

Defra informed the group that France was also issuing licences through arrangements that included the use of inactive licences. Although this was not identical to the proposed UK approach, it was important to monitor effects on overall fishing pressure and may crop up in UK-EU negotiations.

Young fisher scheme

The proposal includes regional identification of potential applicants, eligibility conditions, possible provisional approval and a mentoring element.

Implementation to follow the unused authorisations process, using a proportion of the authorisations available.

Voluntary switch from fixed gillnets to hook and line

The proposed measure would allow eligible fixed-gillnet authorisation holders to trial a temporary switch to hook-and-line fishing. This would help fishers assess whether a permanent change would be economically and operationally viable in their area. Implementation to follow completion of the unused authorisations process.

Vessel size and engine power

Consideration to allow limited flexibility in vessel size and engine power remained valid in principle. Implementation deferred until sufficient evidence was available and the wider legislative and policy position was clearer.

Demersal trawls and seines

Recommendation to establish a demersal trawls and seines working group remains valid. Progress would depend on future prioritisation by Defra and the BMG.

Hook-to-plate accreditation

A national accreditation scheme for commercially caught hook-and-line bass was considered beneficial by the group. The discussion drew on an existing tagging and traceability scheme operated by the South West Handline Fishermen’s Association (SWHFA).

No longer a matter for the task-and-finish group and National Federation of Fisherman’s Organisations (NFFO) to develop a proposal for the scheme.

Shore-based netting review

The review, previously circulated, has incorporated several new considerations such as the improved stock health (as advised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and a management report submitted by the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NEIFCA). This report showed a reduction in bass bycatch from 6.2 tonnes to 3.8 tonnes between the reporting periods presented. It also reported increased catches of other species, improved reporting of seabird and sea trout bycatch, stronger engagement with permit holders and more effective monitoring.

The review concluded that the NEIFCA shore-based netting fishery should remain operational, subject to annual management reporting to Defra, and NEIFCA maintaining consistent and robust management and enforcement of the fishery.

Defra’s shore-based netting review can be found on the MMO FMP updates webpage.

AIFCA measures

Byelaw collation

Update by Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) on the collation of IFCA byelaws in relation to bass, bringing together summaries of relevant regional provisions, affected gear types and links to the underlying byelaws.

Individual IFCAs had been asked to verify the information. Due to be published through the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (AIFCA) following verification completion.

Members welcomed the resource, noting that regional differences can make it difficult for fishers to understand which rules apply. The Kingfisher fishing restrictions mapping tool, which can be found on the Kingfisher Information Services webpage, was also identified as a useful source of spatial information for commercial and recreational fishers.

Commercial handling guidance

Draft commercial bass handling guidance were shared with the group and details the purpose of the guidance, handling practices for different gears, general handling principles and the importance of reporting discarded bass.

Suggested additions included:

• considering whether the guidance should refer to bass nursery areas
• signposting between the recreational and commercial handling product, coordinating publication and distribution where possible, which Sussex IFCA will pick up with the Angling Trust

Improving signage at popular fishing destinations

Sussex IFCA leading with the help of the wider group. Further consideration to be undertaken. The group suggested signage with a QR code may be most appropriate to enable change of future regulations without incurring extra costs.

This work also considers regional protections for bass, and links with the collation of IFCA byelaws.

EU negotiations

ICES allocation tool

Defra stated that despite delays work had started on improving the ICES allocation tool. Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) confirmed a data call was issued by ICES on 10 September, and national experts would contribute further technical work. The aim is to have the improved tool available for the 2027 annual negotiations.

Defra will update at the Specialised Committee on Fisheries meeting on 23 September 2026.

UK-EU data sharing

Defra flagged the agreement between the UK and EU last December to share data on bass landings on a quarterly basis following annual negotiations in 2025.

Data shared up to May recorded approximately 163 tonnes landed by the UK and approximately 286 tonnes by the EU, split across different gears.

A further exchange is planned for late September or early October. Future analysis would compare catch and effort with previous years to provide a clearer picture of changes over time.

UK data shared with EU (tonnes)

Gear	January	February	March	April	Total
Gillnet	26.581	0.261	0.337	29.283	54.462
Line/pole	15.981	0.173	0.003	29.916	46.074
Midwater/pelagic trawl	not applicable	not applicable	not applicable	not applicable	not applicable
Demersal trawl	34.996	0.123	0.113	24.118	59.350
Purse seine	not applicable	not applicable	not applicable	not applicable	not applicable
Other	0.018	1.044	not applicable	0.080	1.141
Total	77.576	1.600	0.434	83.397	163.027

EU data shared with UK (tonnes)

Gear	January	February	March	April	Total
Beam trawl	8.548	1.091	0.022	10.804	20.465
Gillnet	8.478	0.109	0.317	3.800	12.703
Line and pole	7.999	0.226	0.195	14.246	22.666
Other	1.924	0.449	0.017	5.457	7.846
Otter trawl	143.741	0.455	1.220	32.625	178.041
Seines	22.103	0.001	0.158	22.313	44.574
Total	192.792	2.331	1.928	89.244	286.295

Annual negotiations: what would members like to see?

The group reviewed the ICES advice for bass for 2027. Headline advice for the stock has increased approximately 3.8% from 6590 tonnes (2026) to 6841 tonnes (2027).

Cefas confirmed the stock remains above key biomass reference points and fishing below a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) limit would be considered sustainable. The assessment uses the best evidence currently available.

Discussion from the group covered the importance of larger bass to the recreational angling economy. Cefas explained that the ICES assessment is age-structured and contains information about the stock’s size composition, but management advice is currently expressed in terms of total biomass. Strong year classes will take time to grow through the population and contribute to the number of larger bass.

Defra invited members to provide views to inform the UK negotiating position, as well as discussing potential negotiation targets for the EU, and that there would be other fora in which to do so over the next few months.

The group supported an evidence-based approach, due to concern about changes being made through annual negotiations without sufficient assessment of the biological, environmental and socioeconomic consequences.

The group expressed concern that the stock had only recently returned to a healthier position and that a longer evidence series would be needed before considering significant expansion of access.

Closed season

University of Essex project update

Presentation from researchers from the University of Essex on research into bass spawning timing using otolith analysis, maturity data and gonadosomatic indices.

Initial results from the study indicated that 82% of bass spawning fell outside the current February and March closure. The results also suggest regional variation in spawning time, with later spawning in northern regions, including the Irish Sea and North Sea. Publication of the report is expected later this year.

Members discussed how the findings could inform future research under the Bass FMP, and also raised areas for consideration, including:

• geographical gaps in the available evidence
• potential regional differences in spawning behaviour
• the effects of sea temperature and marine heatwaves
• the purpose of the closure, such as whether it protects active spawning, pre-spawning aggregations or both

Potential management considerations discussed in relation to the closed season included:

• retaining the existing national closure
• changing the timing of the closure
• extending its duration
• introducing regional differences
• considering how the closure applies across commercial and recreational fisheries

Wider considerations that would be affected by any change in the closed season were also discussed:

• expected benefits to the bass stock
• impacts on commercial livelihoods
• impacts on recreational anglers and charter vessels
• enforcement and compliance implications
• interactions with other fisheries and potential benefits for other species from reduced fishing effort

The group expressed support for first establishing what the closure is intended to achieve and then assessing the biological and socioeconomic effects of alternative arrangements.

The group agreed to return to the issue in 2027, supported by the final research paper (due to be published by the end of the year). There was broad support for maintaining a closed season as an end point in the forthcoming negotiations. Any future change to its timing, duration or geographical basis should be considered through a separate evidence-based process rather than agreed through annual negotiations alone.

Improving compliance

BASS introduced a proposal for a subgroup covering compliance issues across the recreational and commercial sectors. The intention would be to address recurring concerns that affect trust between sectors and can distract from other Bass FMP work.

General support from the group for this to be carried forward, provided that the group focused on pre-existing FMP objectives, and shared balanced opinions based on fact and existing fishing laws.

No final decision was taken on the structure, chairing arrangements or whether the work should sit within an existing group. BASS agreed to develop group terms of reference and consider relevant membership.

Any other business

No other business raised.

Close

Next meeting expected to take place in December 2026 to debrief on outcomes from UK-EU annual negotiations.

Actions

• BASS: send the recreational survey responses to the Chair and secretariat for circulation
• Angling Trust: share the recreational handling guidance and video and confirm publication arrangements
• Defra: circulate the shore-based netting review prior to publication
• AIFCA and Angling Trust: liaise over references to each other’s handling guidance work
• BMG members: provide Defra with their priorities for the 2026 annual negotiations by 16 October 2026
• University of Essex researchers: circulate their presentation and paper when published
• BASS: develop and circulate the draft terms of reference for the proposed compliance work, consider enforcement representation and who leads this workstream
• BMG members: comment on the compliance proposal, governance and chairing arrangements following circulation