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Guidance: Understand your fishing vessel licence

Marine Management Organisation

July 28
14:59 2022

All licences refer to fishing opportunities within the UK EEZ

UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre - Temporary Change of Industry Number (0131 244 2286)

Due to the situation surrounding the Coronavirus, Marine Scotland has taken steps to ensure the continuity of service provided by the UKFMC. This has required them to temporarily change the telephone number that industry require to call (0131 271 9700), as published in UK vessel licences. Unfortunately, they are unable to divert this number to external lines, which is necessary to afford UKFMC officers the potential to undertake their duties from home, where required. Please note however, at this time, the UKFMC primarily continues to operate out of Victoria Quay, Edinburgh.

In order to facilitate the above, the pre-recorded message delivered to those calling 0131 271 9700 has been changed and advises callers that they are now required to call the following Scottish Government extension 0131 244 2286.

Understanding your vessel licence

Your fishing vessel licence is in several parts. You must read each part carefully to make sure you understand the terms attached to it and that they are correct for your fishing activity.

Contact your local Marine Management Organisation (MMO) office with any questions and notify them immediately if any of the details are incorrect.

An incorrect licence is invalid and you could be liable to penalties.

It is your responsibility to check your licence documents before going to sea as licences can be changed at any time. MMO publishes variations online and notifies those who have provided their contact information.

You can provide MMO with up to 2 emails, mobile phone numbers, or both, as a way of getting direct alerts about changes. You can receive notifications yourself, but it may make sense to nominate someone based onshore who can contact you on your vessel quickly.

Variations are considered to have been received when they are published online. You are required, as part of your licence conditions, to check each week for any changes.

Part 1: Vessel details

This part includes:

  • category of licence
  • official licence number
  • characteristics of your vessel
  • registered owners
  • specific authorities for scallop dredging, beam trawl fishing, fish for shellfish with pots, fixed nets or both
  • membership of a fish producer organisation

Part 2: Conditions

This specifies how your vessel will fish. You may be directed to make landings at certain ports and times.

Part 3: Schedule

This sets out the authority under which you are allowed to fish.

Part 4: Annex

This lists species that you are not permitted to fish and any catch limits for stocks that you are able to fish and land.

Fishing vessel licences: 10 metre and under vessels - non-sector

These are vessels 10-metres-and-under that dont belong to a producer organisation.

Uncapped licences for the non-sector and Isle of Man have the same conditions and schedules, and their own specific annexes.

Capped licences for the non-sector have the same conditions, schedule and annex.

Fishing vessel licences: 10 metre and under vessels - sector

All vessels that are members of a producer organisation have the same conditions and schedule.

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