Statutory guidance

Variation issued: Sunday 01 February 2026

Updated 28 January 2026

The variation effective from 00:01hrs Sunday 01 February 2026 is as follows:

1. 10m & Under Non-Sector Quota Decrease

• Affecting 10m & Under licence category A (91)

SPECIES	SEA AREA (AS STATED IN ANNEXE)	QUOTA SET FROM (TONNES)	QUOTA SET TO (TONNES)
Hake	5b, 6, 7	10 (monthly)	8 (monthly)

2. New Square Mesh Panel Fitment Conditions

• Affecting Over 10m licence categories A (11), A (Islands) (12), A (Pelagic) (17), B (31), C (41), and 10m & Under categories A (91), and A (PO) (91)

New conditions appear at:

• Cat A (11): 27
• Cat A (Islands) (12): 27
• Cat A (Pelagic) (17): 34
• Cat B (31): 27
• Cat C (41): 27
• Cat A (91): 16
• Cat A (91) (PO): 16

X.1 Where the vessel is required, by virtue of this licence or other legislation, to fit a square mesh panel, unless otherwise specified, it must be fitted in accordance with the following requirements:

X.2 It shall be placed in the top half or top sheet of the net in front of any extension piece or at any point between the front of any extension piece and the posterior of the cod-end;

X.3 It shall not be obstructed in any way by either internal or external attachments;

X.4 It shall be at least three metres in length; except when incorporated into nets towed by vessels of less than 112 kilowatts, when it must be of at least two metres in length;

X.5 The rearmost row of meshes of the panel shall be no more than 12 metres from the cod-line;

X.6 It shall be constructed of knotless netting or of netting constructed with non- slip knots, and shall be inserted in such a way that the meshes remain fully open at all times while fishing;

X.7 It shall be constructed so that the number of meshes in the anterior row of meshes of the panel is equal to or greater than the number of meshes in the posterior row of meshes in the panel;

X.8 In any net in which a square-meshed panel is inserted in an un-tapered portion of the net, there shall be no more than five open diamond meshes between each panel side and the adjacent selvedges of the net;

X.9 In any net in which a square-meshed panel is inserted, wholly or partially, into a tapered portion of the net there shall be no more than five open diamond meshes between the posterior row of meshes in the square-meshed panel and the adjacent selvedges of the net;

X.10 Measurements of the mesh size of any square-meshed panel inserted into any part of a net shall not be taken into consideration when assessing the mesh size of a towed net;

X.11 Where the vessel deploys a net in which a square mesh panel is inserted other than by virtue of this licence or other legislation, the square mesh panel shall adhere to the minimum mesh size requirements for the net into which it is inserted.

3. Brown Crab Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) Harmonisation in the South-West

• Affecting Over 10m licence categories A (11), A (Islands) (12), A (Pelagic) (17), B (31), C (41), and 10m & Under categories A (91), and A (PO) (91)

Condition appears at:

• Over 10m schedules: 8.4
• 10m & Under schedules: 5.4

X In all English waters south of 52˚ 0’ 0” N and west of 002˚ 56’ 46.7988” E, the minimum conservation reference size for Edible crab (Cancer Pagurus) shall be 150 mm for female crabs and 160 mm for male crabs.

All Edible crabs shall be measured, as the maximum width of the carapace, perpendicular to the antero-posterior midline of the carapace (as per technical conservation 2019/1214, Annex 4). This licence condition will commence at 00.01 on 01 February 2026

4. Updated Seasonal Closures Issued by Marine Directorate (Scotland)

• Affecting Over 10m licence categories A (11), A (Islands) (12), A (Pelagic) (17), B (31), C (41), and 10m & Under categories A (91), and A (PO) (91)

Amended seasonal closures applying in Scottish Waters including some changes to dates and co-ordinates. Additional new seasonal closures have also been applied to Foula Deeps B, Krogbund and Lille Fiskerbanke.

Seasonal closures updated in conditions at:

• 10m & Under: 17.1
• Over 10m: 21.7
• Cat A (11): 21.7
• Cat A (Islands) (12): 21.7
• Cat A (Pelagic) (17): 27.7
• Cat B (31): 21.7
• Cat C (41): 21.7
• Cat A (91): 17.1
• Cat A (91) (PO): 17.1

The most up to date licences can be accessed on the understand your fishing vessel licence webpage.             

It is your responsibility to check variations before going to sea as they can be changed at any time.          

If you have any queries, please contact the Fisheries Management Team.