MMO - Three questions frequently asked about commercial fishing

BREXIT - a new dawn?

Since the UK voted to leave the EU the proportion of questions the MMO receives from the public and media about commercial fishing has increased.




The latest information from the MMO:

We previously committed to making more of this information freely available. This post answers some further general questions we’re often asked relating to commercial fishing activity in UK and English waters.

How can I get a licence to fish by boat in the UK?

Your vessel must be registered before you can get a licence.

No new fishing vessel licences are created and there are a limited number of licences in circulation. The only way you can get a licence is by transferring an existing one to your vessel. You need a licence entitlement to do this.

The MMO does not sell or provide these licence entitlements. Places they may be obtained include via trade media aimed at the commercial fishing industry.

More information about fishing vessel licensing is also on our website.

Is the MMO aware of the activities of foreign fishing vessels in UK waters?




There are areas where EU fishing vessels are currently legally entitled to fish up to 6 nautical miles off the UK coastline, as part of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The MMO currently enforces compliance with the CFP in English waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone using a combination of monitoring and surveillance assets. We monitor fishing activity and vessel movements using our satellite vessel monitoring system (VMS). One thing this shows is vessels from other countries within UK waters.

It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment in detail on any ongoing enforcement operations.


Where are the busiest fishing ports in the UK?

Our annual statistics publication includes a range of information about the commercial fishing industry, including number of vessels and landings of fish into the top ports in the UK. Chapters 2 and 3 of the publication are particularly relevant.

In 2016, the last year for which figures are available, Peterhead, Lerwick and Fraserburgh accounted for 49 per cent by quantity and 36 per cent by value of all landings by UK vessels into the UK.

Answer to your question not here? Try reading our previous posts for details of how fishing quotas are currently set and more statistics on fishing, including activities by EU vessels in UK waters.

Posted by: Amy Wardlaw, MMO, Posted on: 8 February 2018 - Categories: fisheries

Plenty of black on Newlyn's Monday morning market.

Clear the deck!..deckhand Will on the Three Jays is gradually clearing the deck prior to the long steam from Newlyn to Padstow for some serious modifications below deck - which might be a little uncomfortable going round Lands End this morning...

back in the market, the auction is pretty full this morning with weekend trips form all the inshore trawlers...

and a big hake trip from the netter, Britannia V...

with half the market space given over to stage one of the refurbishment floor space is at a premium again...

an unusually big landing of scallops from the beam trawler, Twilight III...

at this time of year big white fish are full of roe - smoked roe is the main ingredient for that summertime BBQ dip, taramasalata...

the beamer also landed a good shot of brill

while Tom on the Harvest Reaper...

landed a monster trip of ray...

the Frellie from Padstow waded in with a good shot of pollack...

more than enough to keep auctioneer Ian on top of things on the auction floor with so much quality inshore fish from boats like...

the Millennia and his lovely lemons...

plenty more flats from the Elizabeth Veronique...

some big Dover's courtesy of Tom...

and a mix of white fish from the visiting Manx Ranger...

and a handful of red mullet helped boost the New Venture's landing...

a typical day's work from an inshore trawler - that puts in perspective some of thew ridiculous quota allocations that the Under-12m section of the fleet have to contend with...

that's a fine pair Mr McClure...

and a cracking batch of brill to go with them...

while the Millennia touched on a few decent cod...

and must have scraped a wreck of some rough ground to pick up a good box of decent sized conger eels...

while Plugger picked away a few boxes of decent ray...

and a few Dovers aboard the Shiralee...

as did young Roger on the Imogen III

the inshore boats seldom pick up more than a box of cod even at this time of year when the bigger boats are seeing big hauls come aboard...

as usual, the mighty mackerel shoals give up themselves to those handliners willing to brave a heavy ground sea running in the Western Approaches...

but do it responsibly...

the beam trawler Twilight III picked up a few boxes of Dovers along the way

but was targeting cuttlefish for the bulk of her trip...

there were pollack a-plenty with the netters...

enough fish to keep the buyers busy...

while down the quay the gear from the Three Jays was making its way into the back of a waiting truck...

right down the end of the Mary Williams pier what looked like an alien invasion was, i fact, the trawler, Crystal Sea taking off a trawl...

as the Trevessa IV came alongside the fishmarket to land...

that's one tier of nets that won't be shot again...

as the boys on deck...

wait for skipper Fish to catch up on some shore news...

as the Twlight III makes her way in through the gaps...

up goes the port side beam trawl ready to be stowed...

as the starboard side beam chains are shortened prior to lifting...

and then pulling the res of the trawl under the chain mat for stowing prior to sailing...

all set for the long steam round the corner to Padstow...

which is the home port for the big netter, Charisma...

one trawl stretched down the quay...

as the angle-grinder is put to work cutting the fishing line from the footrope...

and the belly and wind end sections are...

separated from the footrope...

back in after a rolly few days...

each pot has its own short strop of rope connecting it to the backing rope - both in different colours to avoid confusion and lessen the chance of an accident when shooting...

the South West's biggest trawler at high water...

which is the time boats, like the Twilight III go up or down off the slip.