Government confirms new UK fishing rules from November 26

The Labour Party government has confirmed new UK fishing rules aimed at rebuilding fish stocks. In a major Thursday update, it said regulations on nets and more selective fishing gear will be introduced across UK and EU waters, following an agreement on a package of technical fisheries measures. The changes are delivered through fishing licence conditions that were put in place on 1 November and come into force on 26 November. The Marine Management Organisation said the measures are meant for the Celtic Sea, English Channel and Irish Sea, with a central requirement for larger mesh sizes and more selective gear. The government guidance states that all quota species must be landed, but they will not be counted for enforcing catch composition rules; quota species can no longer be discarded. Minimum mesh sizes under technical conservation rules must still be respected, including a note that the 5% bycatch rule in scallop dredging will no longer apply to quota species.