Fishing vessel weekly licence variations

19th April 2025

We are providing this update from the UK Fish Export Service to fishing vessel licence holders registered with the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government.

We recently advised of changes to the EU's Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing regulation. These new provisions, which include measures to support traceability of fish produce entering the common market, will be mandatory for all third countries from January 2026. You can read more about these changes in the EU's frequently asked questions document.

While you may not export directly, much of the seafood caught by UK vessels is exported abroad with around 75% of this going to EU markets. This means these changes may impact you and your produce further down the supply chain.

Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the other UKFAs and CDs are still working to better understand these changes but it is clear that updated IUU documents being rolled out as part of the new EU regulation will require additional information beyond what you currently provide.

Read the details HERE