Fisheries management

Two people on a small boat checking an verifying lobsters
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The management of fishing activity, fish (and shellfish) stocks, access to fishing grounds, quotas and marine protected areas (MPAs) are just some of the tools used to ensure that the harvesting of fish and shellfish is sustainable into the future.

Fisheries management plans

These are the main tool used in the UK to manage fishing and stocks, they came into effect following the 2020 UK Fisheries Act revisions.

he UK has internationally agreed responsibilities to manage our fisheries, so our fish stocks are harvested in a sustainable way.

The Fisheries Act 2020 provides the framework to manage UK fisheries as an independent coastal state. The act enables the UK fisheries policy authorities (Defra, and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) to publish fisheries management plans (FMPs) to help deliver our ambition for sustainable fisheries.

List of active and proposed FMPs (as of July 2024).

 

Fisheries Management Plan titleTimetable for preparation and publicationCoordinating AuthorityJoint Authority or Authorities
Crabs & Lobsters FMP2021 to 2023DefraN/A
King Scallop FMP2021 to 2023DefraWelsh Government
Whelks in English waters FMP2021 to 2023DefraN/A
Bass FMP2022 to 2023DefraWelsh Government
Channel Non-Quota Demersal FMP2022 to 2023DefraN/A
Irish Sea Pelagic FMP2022 to 2023DAERADefra, Welsh Government
Cockles FMP2022 to 2024DefraN/A
Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel Mixed Flatfish FMP2022 to 2024DefraN/A
North Sea and Channel Sprat FMP2022 to 2024DefraMarine Scotland
Irish Sea Demersal FMP2022 to 2024DAERADefra, Welsh Government
Northern Ireland Inshore FMP2022 to 2024DAERAN/A
North Sea Cod FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
West Coast of Scotland Cod FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
Atlantic Cod FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Haddock FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
Atlantic Haddock FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
West Coast of Scotland Whiting FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea Whiting FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Saithe FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
Northern Shelf Hake FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Monk/Angler FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea and West Coast of Scotland Megrim FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
Northern Shelf Ling FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea Nephrops FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
West Coast of Scotland Nephrops FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
Northern Shelf Mackerel FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
Atlanto-Scandian Herring FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea Herring FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
West Coast of Scotland (and Clyde) Herring FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea Greater Silver Smelt FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
West of Scotland Greater Silver Smelt FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
Northern Shelf Blue Whiting FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDAERA, Defra, Welsh Government
North Sea Horse Mackerel FMP2022 to 2024Marine ScotlandDefra
Queen Scallop FMP2023 to 2024DefraN/A
Southern North Sea Non-Quota Demersal FMP2023 to 2024DefraN/A
Southern North Sea and Channel Skates and Rays FMP2023 to 2024DefraN/A
Celtic Sea and Western Channel Demersal FMP2023 to 2025DefraWelsh Government
Celtic Sea and Western Channel Pelagic FMP2023 to 2025DefraWelsh Government
Black Seabream FMP2023 to 2025DefraN/A
Wrasses complex FMP2023 to 2025DefraN/A
Crabs & Lobsters FMP2022 to 2026Welsh GovernmentN/A
Whelks in Welsh waters FMP2022 to 2027Welsh GovernmentN/A
Cockles FMP2022 to 2028Welsh GovernmentN/A

More Seafish content on FMPs

Contact Seafish's FMP team for more information