New regulations on nets and selective fishing gear are set to be introduced in UK and EU waters to protect stocks.
The changes have been made through fishing licence conditions after the UK and EU reached an agreement on a package of technical fisheries measures aimed at rebuilding depleted stocks in the Celtic Sea, English Channel and Irish Sea.
At the heart of the agreement is a requirement for fishermen to use larger mesh sizes and more selective fishing gear.
The licence conditions were brought in on 1 November and come into force from 26 November.
Sean Douglas, Marine Management Organisation’s Head of Regulatory Assurance, said: “As a regulator we are looking to support our industry to adapt to these changes.
We have published guidance to explain the new requirements in the relevant ICES areas and I would urge all fishermen who fish for these key stocks in those areas to take action now to stay compliant with regulations.
Read here to understand how these changes could affect your fishing operations.