Fishing - Scottish Economic Link licence condition: guidance

In January 2025, we amended the economic link licence conditions to increase landings of 8 key species into Scotland. We have reviewed these landing percentages and consulted with stakeholders.

Following scientific advice and international negotiations between coastal states, there will be significant reductions to the total allowable catch (TAC) for mackerel and herring in 2026. These reductions will help protect these fish stocks and ensure a continued sustainable supply for the domestic fishing and processing industry.

The amended licence condition comes into effect on 1 January 2026. If you have a vessel over 10 metres in length that lands fish outside Scotland, you need to know about these changes.

What economic link arrangements are

Since 1999, all commercial fishing vessels over 10 metres in length landing certain species must meet specific requirements. These requirements show the vessel has an economic link to the United Kingdom.

Summary of the changes

From 1 January 2026: 

• only vessels with a registered length over 10 metres are required to meet economic link arrangements
• the arrangements cover 8 key species: herring, mackerel, Nephrops, haddock, monkfish, cod, hake and whiting - these account for 90% of the value of total landings by Scottish vessels of TAC stocks
• vessels over 10 metres are eligible if they land more than 10 tonnes of the 8 key species in any calendar year
• there are now only 2 ways to satisfy economic link requirements:
  • land the required tonnage of key species into Scotland
  • provide "quota gifts" to the Scottish Government
• the landings target for demersal and shellfish stocks remains at 55%
• separately, the landings target for pelagic species (mackerel and herring) increases to 70% individually

Read more about quota gifting in the September 2022 consultation outcome report.

Please contact accesstoseafisheries@gov.scot if you have any questions.

A review of compliance with the 2024 Economic Link licence condition

From 1 January 2024 all Scottish administered vessels over 10m in length which landed over 10 tonnes of the noted species must have meet either of the following obligations:

1. a) Land more than 55% of cod, haddock, whiting, hake, anglerfish & nephrops (combined) in the period 1 January - 31 December 2023 into a Scottish port.

1. b) Land more than 40%, of herring and mackerel (combined) in the period 1 January - 31 December 2023 into a Scottish port.

2. Return quota in the following calendar year equivalent to 26% of the lost value to Scotland.

Vessels which did not meet condition 1(a) or 1(b) in 2024

A10184	PROVIDER
A10188	CHARMEL
A11754	ACIONNA
A13160	TAHUME
A16740	ESPEMAR DOS
B11132	WAKEFUL
B12234	ELLEN MAC
B13488	ANNEGINA
B13827	ALBION
C17805	QUO VADIS
C19630	PATRICIA MARTA
C20043	MIKKEL LOUISE
C20969	HENK SENIOR
C21237	NEELTJE
C21242	ALCEDO
C21269	GOOD HOPE

Aggregated quotas recovered in 2025 from vessels not meeting the minimum landing requirements to fulfil the Economic Link licence condition in 2024.

Stock	Quota recovered (tonnes)
NS cod	10
NS haddock	30
NS nephrops	15.7
NS plaice	35
NS skate and rays	22.8
6 & 7 skate & rays (excluding 7d)	2.2
NS whiting	10
7 nephrops	26
NS sole	8
WS saithe	25
WS ling	15
WS (6a) haddock	15

These figures are a little over 80% of what we expect to recover in total. Marine Directorate may use some of these quotas to exchange for others, as/if required.

A review of compliance with the 2023 Economic Link licence condition

From 1 January 2023 all Scottish administered vessels over 10m in length which landed over 10 tonnes of the noted species must have meet either of the following obligations:

1. a) Land more than 55% of cod, haddock, whiting, hake, anglerfish & nephrops (combined) in the period 1 January - 31 December 2023 into a Scottish port.

1. b) Land more than 30%, of herring and mackerel (combined) in the period 1 January - 31 December 2023 into a Scottish port.

2. Return quota in the following calendar year equivalent to 26% of the lost value to Scotland.

Vessels which did not meet condition 1(a) or 1(b) in 2023

A10105	NORTHERN STAR
A10184	PROVIDER
A10188	CHARMEL
A11754	ACIONNA
A13160	TAHUME
A16740	ESPEMAR DOS
B11132	WAKEFUL
B13488	ANNEGINA
B13827	ALBION
C17307	SPARKLING STAR IV
C17805	QUO VADIS
C19630	PATRICIA MARTA
C20043	MIKKEL LOUISE
C20104	ISLA S
C20259	NEREUS
C20969	HENK SENIOR
C21237	NEELTJE
C21269	GOOD HOPE

These vessels have since complied with condition 2 and the table below shows the aggregated quotas recovered from these vessels in 2024.

Stock	Quota recovered (tonnes)
NS cod	29.6
NS haddock	13.2
NS nephrops	27.9
NS plaice	10.8
NS skate and rays	11.8
NS whiting	17.6
NS witch	2