Fishing vessel weekly licences: no changes effective 12 December 2025

There are no new licence variations this week.

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.

UKFMC

The UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre opening hours during the forthcoming festive period will be as follows, with 24 hour coverage being scaled back from Monday 22nd December:

DAY	DATE	UKFMC OPEN HOURS
Sunday	21/12/2025	Normal 24 hours
Monday	22/12/2025	00:00 - 22:30
Tuesday	23/12/2025	08:30 - 17:00
Wednesday	24/12/2025	08:30 - 17:00
Thursday	25/12/2025	Closed
Friday	26/12/2025	Closed
Saturday	27/12/2025	08:30 - 17:00
Sunday	28/12/2025	08:30 - 17:00
Monday	29/12/2025	08:30 - 17:00
Tuesday	30/12/2025	08:30 - 17:00
Wednesday	31/01/2025	08:30 - 17:00
Thursday	01/01/2026	Closed
Friday	02/01/2026	Normal 24 hours commencing 07:00

Throughout the festive period Port State Control and IUU obligations will be met on a 24/7 basis through electronic communications only. Out of hours support for critical service issues on the Fish Export Service will also be maintained.

Fish Export Service Update November - Fishers

What is happening   

From 10 January 2026, all fishers and exporters will be required to provide additional information for seafood leaving the UK. With just weeks to go you need to act early to familiarise and adopt the changes, to ensure you can provide your buyer, with the appropriate information. 

How these changes affect you?  

Much of the seafood caught by UK vessels is exported abroad with around 75 per cent of this going to the EU, or other relevant countries. Exporters will be required to provide this information if they are exporting consignments of fish or seafood overseas. 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 on.   

Some fish and shellfish produce are excluded from the definition of 'fishery products' and do not need an IUU document for export. This includes scallops, muscles, clams, cockles, ark shells and oysters. Flours, meals and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates intended for human consumption are also exempt. Please check for a full list of exemptions with the competent authority of the import country.

1. What is changing – Catch Certificate 

From 10 January 2026 the following additional information is required for the Catch Certificate: 

• The start date of the fishing trip  

• The gear type used   

• Information relating to the first mode of transport leaving the UK  

• The area of catch (which exclusive economic zone (EEZ) the catch occurred in, if any catching took place in the high seas and whether there is interest from a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO)).  

These changes have already been introduced for you to start using.

We are urging everyone in the supply chain to begin adopting these changes as soon as possible to prepare for January changes. Exporters will be requiring information from fishers to complete the catch certificate. Without it they will not be able to export so please provide your buyer with all the information needed.

Action: Act Now! Get on Board! 

Adopt the new changes as soon as you are able. While the new IUU requirements do not come into force until 10 January 2026, UK fishing authorities strongly advise you to familiarise yourself with the updates as they appear in FES and start to provide the relevant information ahead of time.  

Discuss these changes with your buyer to ensure that the required information is understood and supplied. On 10 January 2026 this information will be an EU mandatory requirement and without it, you will not be able to complete your application for export documentation.  

These changes are set out in the EU’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations.  They are separate to, and unaffected by, the outcomes of the UK-EU reset deal of May 2025.  

You can read more in the EU Frequently Asked Questions document.  

MMO is working with all UK fishing authorities to make sure all parties understand the changes and how they may be affected.   

How we are supporting you 

UK fishing authorities have published new guidance explaining these changes.

We have published some FAQs to help you understand what you need to do and why.

We are holding a series of online webinars for you to attend to learn more about the new changes. You can find out about dates and how to sign up here.

Please remember #FishTraceShip and get onboard with the changes. 

Other changes:

Processing Statement

NEW: A new Processing Statement is now live in the FES system.

From 10 January 2026, a Processing Statement will be required for ALL seafood caught by UK vessels and subsequently processed after landing in the UK. Processing Statements will also need to show the weights of each type of seafood that has contributed to each processed product.

‘Processed’ means any seafood that has been cut, filleted, canned, smoked, salted, cooked, pickled, dried, or otherwise prepared for market. Fish which has only been frozen and/or packed will not require a Processing Statement. 

Whilst completing a processing statement may not be relevant to you it is important you are aware of the change, If you are unsure if you are required to complete a processing statement, use our visual guide to help you. 

Catch Certificate Data Upload users  

For users of the data upload feature to create their catch certificates, there is now a new version of the csv file to include start date of the fishing trip, gear type used and area of catch information. The FES service will accept both the current csv file structure and the new version until January 2026, when use of the new version will become mandatory.  

We have issued detailed guidance to support data upload users and publishing this on our Gov.uk pages.

Non-Manipulation Document (formerly the Storage Document)  

On 20 November we will be making changes to the Storage Document for you to provide additional details for the arrival of the fish produce to the UK. The Storage Document will be renamed to Non-Manipulation Document (NMD) in January 2026.

From 10 January, when a consignment is split into sub-consignments before export, each sub-consignment must have its own non-manipulation document.

The use of the new Storage Document fields is currently voluntary but will be mandatory from 10 January 2026. If the relevant information is not provided and passed on to the exporter, you may not be able to sell your produce.to the exporter, you may not be able to sell your produce.

 Important ‘Fish, Trace, Ship’ seafood supply chain update 

We are just 7 weeks away from extensive new changes coming into effect that will impact all UK seafood exports and all sections of the supply chain.

From 10 January 2026, exporters together with the wider supply chain, will be required to provide additional information for seafood leaving the UK.  

As a licensed fisher, these changes DO affect you unless you sell an exempt species.  You need to take urgent action now to prepare for the changes to ensure you or your business can continue to trade efficiently. You will also receive another version of this letter if you are a registered Fish Export Service user.  

Reminder: What is changing: 

These are the changes which may not all be relevant to you, but it is important you are aware of them.

• New data fields on Catch Certificates (including fishing trip start date, gear type, area fished, transport details).
• A new section to the Storage Document for you to provide details for the arrival of the fish produce to the UK will be released on November 20. The Storage Document will be renamed to Non-Manipulation Document in January 2026
• The requirement to produce a Processing Statement for any seafood processed on land in the UK, and new weights information for the Processing Statement.

On November 20 we will be updating the FES system to include the changes to Processing Statements and deliver the new Non-Manipulation Document template for those involved in export process.

If you land your catch and sell within the UK, you must pass on this additional information to the buyer so it can be passed through the supply chain.

If you land directly into a country that requires a catch certificate, including Northern Ireland for GB vessels, you must provide the additional information from January 2026.

These and more detail about all the changes can be viewed on the Fish, Trace, Ship campaign site where you will find links to Guidance, FAQs and dates for engagement webinars.

What do I need to do?

Please understand what is changing even if you think you are not directly affected as you may not be able to sell on your produce without the appropriate documentation information.

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If you don’t want to hear more about FES, please email UKIUUSLO@marinemanagement.org.uk  to be removed from future mailings.