Herring in the Firth of Clyde: Recommending the total allowable catch 2026: consultation analysis

3. Outcome and next steps

Having considered the best available scientific information, the wider obligations and analysed all responses submitted through the consultation process, the TAC for 2026 has been recommended to the UK Secretary of State at 583 tonnes in parallel to retaining the existing management measures. This is in line with the scientific advice.

The Scottish Government has made a recommendation on this basis to the UK Secretary of State. A determination on the TAC level will subsequently be made by the Secretary of State and licences issued.

As outlined in the consultation, the MD continues to request any relevant additional data that fishers, research organisations, universities or other stakeholders may hold on the Clyde herring stock. A number of respondents also offered to provide evidence and/or assist in collection of data to provide greater understanding on the health of the stock. MD observers also have availability to accompany fishers on vessels to conduct bycatch surveys as an additional means of gathering data. If this is an opportunity stakeholders would be interested in then please contact Campbell Pert (Campbell.Pert@gov.scot) to facilitate this.

Consideration will be given to any data which:

• Is verified numerical data.
• Records some or all of: fish weights, lengths, ages, and maturities. Examples may include herring surveys, herring sampling data, fishers’ logbook data (detailing catch, location, reported landings).

Please submit any data to mss.fisheries.advice@gov.scot and Campbell Pert (Campbell.Pert@gov.scot) by 31 December 2026, to allow for consideration during 2027.