Statutory guidance

Variation issued: Sunday 01 November 2026

Updated 29 October 2026

1. The variation effective from 00:01hrs Sunday 01 November 2026 is as follows:  

1.1 Changes to Celtic Sea technical measures

• Affecting licence categories A (11), A (Islands) (12), A (Pelagic) (17), B (31), and C (41), and A (91)

Conditions amended in section “Celtic Sea technical measures” in licence conditions below:

XX.7 The obligation in conditions XX.2 and XX.3 do not apply to a vessel whose catch comprises 30% or more of nephrops, which must instead use an 80mm codend plus one of the following gear configurations (a-d):

(a) a 300 mm square mesh panel

(b) Seltra panel (consists of a top panel of 300 mm square mesh, placed in a four-panel box section, in the straight section of a codend; is at least 3 metres long; is positioned no more than 4 metres from the codline; is the full width of the top sheet of the box section of the trawl (selvedge to selvedge));

(c) Nordmøre sorting grid (selectivity device which consists of a rigid grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm);

(d) Netgrid device (a selectivity device consisting of a four-panel section inserted into a two-panel trawl with an inclined sheet of diamond mesh netting with a maximum mesh size of 200 mm leading to an escape hole in the top of the trawl).

XX.11 By way of derogation to points XX.2, XX.3 and XX.6 – XX.10 above, vessels of 12 metres overall length or less and an engine power of 221 kW or less fishing within 12 nm of the United Kingdom in ICES area 7e east of 5° W, may fish in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures.

1.2 Changes to Irish Sea technical measures

• Affecting licence categories A (11), A (Islands) (12), A (Pelagic) (17), B (31), and C (41), and A (91)

1.3 New conditions added in section “Technical measures in Irish Sea” in licence conditions below:

XX.1 Notwithstanding the requirements in relevant fisheries legislation, fishing vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines in ICES division 7a shall comply with the technical measures set out in conditions XX.2, XX.3 and XX.4.

XX.2 Vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 30% of Norway lobster shall use an 80 mm codend (or 70 mm for single rig vessels) plus one of the following gear configurations (a-d):

(a) a 300 mm square mesh panel (for vessels in excess of 12 metres overall length) or a 200 mm square mesh panel (for vessels of 12 metres or less overall length);

(b) Seltra panel (consists of a top panel of 300 mm square mesh, placed in a four-panel box section, in the straight section of a codend; is at least 3 metres long; is positioned no more than 4 metres from the codline; is the full width of the top sheet of the box section of the trawl (selvedge to selvedge));

(c) Nordmøre sorting grid (selectivity device which consists of a rigid grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm);

(d) Netgrid device (a selectivity device consisting of a four-panel section inserted into a two-panel trawl with an inclined sheet of diamond mesh netting with a maximum mesh size of 200 mm leading to an escape hole in the top of the trawl).

XX.3 Vessels equal to or greater than 12 metres overall length operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 10 % of haddock, cod and skates and rays combined, shall use one of the following gear options: (a) 120 mm codend; (b) an eliminator trawl with 600 mm large mesh panels and a 100 mm codend.

XX.4 Vessels equal to or greater than 12 metres overall length operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising less than 10 % of haddock, cod and skates and rays combined shall apply a codend mesh size of 100 mm with a 100 mm squared mesh panel. This provision shall not apply to vessels with catches comprising more than 30% of Norway lobster or more than 85% of queen scallops.

XX.5 A selective gear or device assessed by a fisheries administration as having the same or higher selectivity characteristics for cod, haddock and whiting than the gear options set out in conditions XX.2 to XX.4 may be used as an alternative to those gear options. 

XX.6 Conditions XX.1 to XX.6 take effect at 00:01 UTC on 26 November 2026.

Conditions removed from section “Irish Sea conservation measures” in licence schedules:

XX.1 Vessels operating in the Northern Ireland zone of ICES Area 7a must comply with the specific technical measures described for the Irish Sea as specified in EU Regulations (EU) 2019/1241 and (EU) 2019/2239. These regulations provide a number of options for highly selective gears (HSE) that must be used in the Irish Sea.

XX.2 All vessels must use an appropriate highly selective gear in the Irish Sea.

XX.3 Vessels (greater than 12 m in length) operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 10% of haddock, cod and skates and rays combined, shall use one of the following gear options: (a) 120 mm cod-end; (b) an eliminator trawl with 600 mm large mesh panels and a 100 mm cod-end.

XX.4 The gears described above paragraph XX.3 cannot be used within Northern Ireland zone of the Irish Sea (ICES Area 7a) from 14 February to 30 April, both dates inclusive, within the following area: • a point on the east coast of the Ards peninsula in Northern Ireland at 54°30′N • 54°30′ N, 04°50′ W • 53°15′ N, 04°50′ W • a point on the east coast of Ireland at 53°15′ N.

1.4 New ‘Channel technical measures for beam trawls’ conditions added

• Affecting licence categories A (11), A (Islands) (12), A (Pelagic) (17), B (31), and C (41), and A (91)

New conditions added in section “Channel technical measures for beam trawls” in licence conditions below:

XX.1 Notwithstanding the requirements in relevant fisheries legislation, within the parts of ICES divisions 7d and 7e which are within British fishery limits, the minimum codend mesh size for a vessel using beam trawls (TBB) shall be 90 mm.

XX.2 The obligation in condition XX.1 does not apply to vessels, within British fishery limits, that are less than or equal to 12 metres overall length and have an engine power less than or equal to 221 kW.

XX.3 The obligation in condition XX.1 does not apply within the 6 nautical mile limit, to vessels permitted to operate within the jurisdiction of an Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

1.5 Marine Directorate seasonal closure “Foula Deeps A” removed from licence conditions

• Affecting over 10m categories A (11), A (Islands) (12), A (Pelagic) (17), B (31), C (41)

Seasonal Closure 6	Foula Deeps A	00:00 1 November – 23:59 31 December
	60º 17.5’N, 01º 45’W, 60º 11.0’N, 01º 45’W, 60º 11.0’N, 02º 10’W, 60º 20.0’N, 02º 00’W, 60º 20.0’N, 01º 50’W

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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.