Herring in the Firth of Clyde - recommending the total allowable catch for 2026: consultation

5. Control measures and data collection requirements

Proposed control measures and data collection requirements to be in place for 2026 specific to fishing herring in the Firth of Clyde:

1. A complete ban on herring fishing from 1 January to 30 April;

2. Vessels are required to enter the Clyde empty with prior notification, and can only land at notified ports. Vessels wishing to land herring at other ports, including abroad, shall first gain permission from the UKFMC and adhere to certain conditions, as set out in the licence;

3. Vessels are required to relinquish other herring licences prior to fishing for Clyde herring;

4. Vessels are required to provide acoustic and GPS data (where they have the facility to do so) and provide a haul by haul log of catches and time fishing associated with each haul; and Vessels are required to provide a 15 kg sample of the herring taken during each trip for analysis by Marine Directorate (Science) to determine age, length, weight/length and maturity;

5. Fishers must comply with other relevant legislation, including by not limited to The Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Scotland) Order 2004 and The Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024, and licence conditions, including those introduced on 27 February 2026.