Fishing vessel weekly licence variations 04 July 2025

Notice to fishers

Fish Export Service new EU 2026 regulations

Why we are writing to you

We are writing to update you on upcoming changes to the rules for exporting seafood to the EU. You are receiving this message because you are a fishing vessel licence holder. You will also receive another version of this letter if you are a registered user of the Fish Export Service (FES) and are involved in the export of fish and seafood products to the European Union (EU).

What is happening

The EU is making changes to the information that will be required to accompany seafood exports to the EU. These changes are set out in the EU’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations and come into effect from 10 January 2026. The EU is introducing these changes to support traceability of fish produce entering the common market and prevent illegal imports. The changes are not directly related to, or impacted by, the UK-EU reset deal of May 2025. You can read more about the changes in the EU Frequently Asked Questions document updated in April 2025.

How this will affect you

Much of the seafood caught by UK vessels is exported abroad with around 75 per cent of this going to the EU. Exporters will be required to provide this information for seafood to enter the EU. Even if you do not export directly, you need to be aware of the changes as they may impact your ability to sell your produce.

These changes will also apply to you if you are involved in direct landing of catch outside of the UK.

What we are doing

Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and other UK Fisheries Authorities have been working to understand the changes and what that means for UK fishers, merchants and exporters. MMO has also been developing updates to FES to support exporters to provide the newly required information. We are introducing these updates on a phased basis to enable users to become familiar with these changes ahead of January 2026.

What is changing – Catch Certificate

From 10 January 2026, the EU will require the following new information to be included on the catch certificate:

• the start date of the fishing trip
• the gear type used
• the area of catch (which exclusive economic zone (EEZ) the catch occurred in and whether there is interest from a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO))

In July we are introducing new start date of the fishing trip and gear type used fields to FES. The start date will be required in addition to the existing requirement to provide the landing date.

In September we are introducing a new area of catch field to FES. We will provide further communications on this in due course.

These fields will be optional, and the information will not appear on the catch certificate document, until January 2026.

What you need to do

The new EU requirements do not come into force until 10 January 2026. However, I would strongly advise you to familiarise yourself with the changes as they appear in FES and start to provide the relevant information to your buyers when selling your produce. This will help minimise disruption to your business.

We understand that these changes create an additional burden on the wider UK fishing industry. We are working to support fishers, merchants and exporters with these changes to minimise any disruption to commerical operations and trade.

Next steps

We have published new guidance explaining these changes and will be carrying out further engagement with industry over the summer.

We are also looking for fishers, merchants and exporters to join our research panel help us design and implement the changes to FES. If you are interested, please sign up here.

 

Nicholas Greenwood
Head of Marine Protection and Operational Services
MMO

The following are presented for clarity of the current fortnightly period.

Organisation/ Non-producer Organisation Group	Type of Licence	Reason	Species	Area of Sea	Limit	Effective Date
10 Metre and Under- Non PO (Moray Firth)	AU	Effective date	Mackerel	IIIa & IV : EU waters of IIa, IIIbcd	Fortnightly catch limit of 2 tonnes	0001 hours on 29 June 2025 - 2359 hours on 12 July 2025
10 Metre and Under- Non PO (Shetland)	AU	Effective date	Mackerel	IIIa & IV : EU waters of IIa, IIIbcd	Fortnightly catch limit of 2 tonnes	0001 hours on 29 June 2025 - 2359 hours on 12 July 2025
10 Metre and Under- Non PO (Orkney)	AU	Effective date	Mackerel	IIIa & IV : EU waters of IIa, IIIbcd	Fortnightly catch limit of 2 tonnes	0001 hours on 29 June 2025 - 2359 hours on 12 July 2025
10 Metre and Under- Non PO (IVb)	AU	Effective date	Mackerel	IIIa & IV : EU waters of IIa, IIIbcd	Fortnightly catch limit of 2 tonnes	0001 hours on 29 June 2025 - 2359 hours on 12 July 2025

Remote Electronic Monitoring

Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) is now mandatory for any vessel dredging for scallops in Scottish waters, and for Scottish scallop dredge vessels wherever they are fishing. Read the Remote Electronic Monitoring guidance.

The legislation - The Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 – also requires REM on relevant pelagic vessels from 7 March 2026. In order to prepare for the new rules coming into force, remote inspections and system test trips can be carried out from 7 September 2025.  Guidance on the pelagic vessel requirements will be published in due course.

Fishing vessel quota limits tables: 2025 - showing the quota limits applicable to 10m and under and over 10m non-sector vessels.

Fisheries closures table: 2025 showing all fisheries closures, by group, for Scottish fishing licences.